Nikki Bella & Brie Bella React To 'Dancing With The Stars' Moving To Disney+

The famous celebrity dance show "Dancing With The Stars" will no longer be on ABC but on the newer Disney+ platform.

"DWTS," which was on ABC since it launched in 2005, will begin its 31st season on Disney's streaming service this fall.

The soon-to-be wife of Artem Chigvintsev, Nikki Bella, and her twin sister Brie Bella shared their reactions to the news of the switch.

According to ET, after a whopping thirty seasons on ABC, "Dancing With The Stars" will officially begin its newest run on Disney Plus.

While attending the 2022 Nickelodeon's Kids’ Choice Awards on Saturday, April 9, the Bella twins spoke to the outlet about their feelings regarding the switch.

It turns out that the "America's Got Talent: Extreme" co-host and her fiancé were not expecting that the reality dance competition series would move to another streaming platform. Nikki said:

"I was shocked too. It was especially because I saw it online on social media. I was immediately like, ‘Artem, you’re going to Disney Plus."

The former WWE personality and mother to Matteo Artemovich Chigvinstev expressed her sympathy to the show's fans who will no longer have access to it. She expressed:

"I also feel bad just for the viewers who can’t afford streaming services. I think dancing [Dancing With The Stars] was such an outlet for people to enjoy it with the family. I hope it’s the best."

Although Nikki is sympathetic toward those who will be negatively affected by the show's upcoming exclusivity, she is impressed by the historical nature of the move. She explained:

"I also think it’s cool they’re doing history by being the first live [show] on streaming. So, it can actually open a lot of doors."

Bella shared her thoughts on how Disney features can be incorporated into the dance show to switch things up. She suggested, “Maybe Mickey Mouse could compete." 

Nikki took her sister's idea a step further by offering that the show's executives should bring on different Disney characters.

Chigvinstev's fiancée said that the new platform might allow him to cosplay as a "Star Wars" character on the show, adding that he is "obsessed" with the series.

"DWTS" will debut for two seasons in the U.S. and Canada only on Disney Plus this fall according to Deadline.

This move earns the dance show the historical feat of being the first live program to appear on the platform. ABC's advisory read that they will replace the "DWTS" 8-10 PM Monday slot with several football games. 

The network credited this change with aiding the development and investment in "new and future programming."

Disney Plus executives also hope that the dance show's following will attract a massive crowd of new viewers and subscribers to their streaming platform.

The chairman of Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, Kareem Daniel, spoke on the widespread appeal of the dance series. He said:

"Dancing with the Stars has entertained fans for 16 years on ABC, and we are excited to bring this beloved show exclusively to Disney+ as the platform’s first-ever live series."

Daniel expressed that the immense popularity of the show's Disney-themed competitive nights means that Disney Plus is the perfect place to house it as the company expands its demographic.

The outlet noted that though "Dancing With The Stars" has not made a lot of money for ABC over the years, viewers were significantly motivated to tune into the channel.

Due to the high rating the broadcast network pulls from the dance competition, it is expected to boost the subscriptions to Disney Plus.

Despite the positives for Disney+, "DWTS" departure from ABC will impact the channel and its affiliate networks. The outlet expects that station owners will soon react to the move.

These network personalities will express their views on the loss of the highly-rated show in the upcoming Affiliate meeting for the channel holding on May 18 in New York City.

An adverse reaction to the move will have little effect as the contract between ABC and Disney Plus has already been signed. The meeting will also hold a day after the company presents its new "DWTS"-free schedule.