EXCLUSIVE: RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 is already taking a victory lap, after the premiere episode scored the series’ best ratings in years.
According to live + three-day Nielsen data, the episode scored a 0.908 rating among adults 18-34, up 17% from the year prior and, actually, marking the competition’s highest-rated season premiere in seven years.
Among adults 18-49, RuPaul’s Drag Race scored a 0.993 rating, which is the best season premiere performance in 12 years, up 9% from the year before.
Nielsen says that the Season 17 premiere managed a 10.77 share among adults 18-34 and a 7.55 share among adults 18-49, up 38% and 27% respectively year-over-year.
Season 17 debuted on January 3, so it may seem a little late to be touting this win, but Paramount Global is just beginning to use Nielsen data again after a four-month contract dispute, so historical comparisons were difficult prior to this week.
This marks the third consecutive year that RuPaul’s Drag Race has ushered in record ratings with its season premiere. As Season 17 marks the third for the long-running competition series at MTV after moving from VH1 last season, it appears the show has officially settled into its new home — and has found a larger audience because of it.
The last time that the series switched networks — from Logo TV to VH1 — it saw a similar spike.
A new episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race will air Friday night. Titled “Let’s Get Sea Sickening Ball,” the episode will see the queens put their design skills to the test in a pageant of ocean-inspired couture and showcase three fishy looks. Actress and model Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), and superstar stylist Law Roach (Legendary) guest judge.
