American Idol is going to Disney+.
The talent competition will air live on the streamer for the first time, in addition to airing on ABC. It comes as the series, which streams next day on Hulu, has begun its 24th season with stellar ratings.
The show, which now airs on Monday nights, will start airing on Disney+ on March 30. It is the latest ABC show to stream live on Disney+ after Dancing with the Stars.
It’s one of a number of changes for the long-running show, which is introducing live social voting this season for the first time, becoming the first major entertainment show to do so.
Megan Michaels Wolflick told Deadline last month that she has wanted to do social media voting for the last five years, something that no other major entertainment show has done.
“We have to meet the audience where they are. Back in 2002 when the show began, texting was the new hot thing. We also have to meet the technology where it is, as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites, weigh in from their couch with their second screen, in real time,” she said.
The show, which is hosted by Ryan Seacrest with Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood as judges, is also going all in on Nashville this season.
Auditions took place in November at Belmont University, the first time that it has done auditions in only one location. Last season, for instance, featured auditions in New York, LA and Nashville.
American Idol is produced by Fremantle and Sony’s 19 Entertainment, a part of Sony Pictures Television. Executive producers include Megan Wolflick, also serving as showrunner with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman serving as executive producers for 19 Entertainment.
