‘Wheel of Fortune’ Gets Premiere Ratings Bump in Major Markets for Ryan Seacrest’s Host Debut
variety.comMichael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Seacrest, in. New “Wheel of Fortune” host Ryan Seacrest kicked off his tenure as the new host of the syndicated “Wheel of Fortune” with a healthy boost in the nation’s major TV markets.
According to early data, Monday’s Season 42 premiere averaged a 4.62 household rating in the overnight markets, vs. a 2.94 rating for the Season 41 premiere in 2023.
That reps a 57% increase in households for the syndicated series’ premiere across the 44 overnight markets. More detailed, national ratings for the first full week of “Wheel of Fortune” episodes will be released next week. “Wheel of Fortune” returned on Monday for its Season 42 with some big changes, including a new set (which, Seacrest noted, came with a lot of lights) and, of course, the biggest change of them all: A new host.
That was acknowledged up top, when announcer Jim Thornton opened the show: “And now together for the first time, here are the stars of our show, Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White!” Seacrest and White taped the season premiere episode in July. “Thank you for the very warm welcome,” Seacrest said after being welcomed to the show by White. “Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is a dream job.
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