Who's Winning the TV Battle?

The TV ratings game is heating up, and it's not just about who's on top right now, but who can keep the audience hooked until the very end. Last night, ITV's "I'm a Celebrity. . . Get Me Out of Here! " kicked off its new season with a bang. It pulled in 6. 6 million viewers, with a peak of 7. 3 million during the first hour. That's a solid start, but it's not the only show making waves. "Celebrity Traitors" might have started a bit slower with 6. 1 million viewers, but it ended its run with a massive 11 million. That's a huge jump and a tough act to follow. "I'm a Celebrity" has its work cut out if it wants to match that by the time it wraps up in three weeks. Meanwhile, "Strictly Come Dancing" on BBC One had a softer opening with 5. 4 million viewers. It's been growing, but the show is facing some big changes with its presenters, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, stepping down. ITV is pretty pleased with itself, calling last night's episode the "biggest entertainment launch on any channel this year. " It also drew in the network's largest audience of 16-34 year olds since the Euros soccer tournament in 2024. This year's "I'm a Celeb" lineup includes rapper Aitch, comedian Ruby Wax, and Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack Osbourne. The show is known for its gruesome bushtucker trials, which test the contestants' nerves and stomachs. With "Celebrity Traitors" still fresh in everyone's minds, the battle for TV dominance is far from over. It's not just about who starts strong, but who can keep the audience engaged until the final episode.