As we recover from the disruption of Daylight Savings Time, it’s time to tackle a recurring issue for Dancing with the Stars fans: Why can’t West Coast viewers watch the show simultaneously with their East Coast counterparts?

Now, I get it — in the grand scheme of global issues, this isn’t exactly a life-or-death matter. However, as a Californian and an avid fan of the show, I’m puzzled. In 2025, with the show’s massive following, why can’t we use our Disney+ accounts to stream it live and dodge those pesky social media spoilers?

Having worked in broadcast television, I understand that local ABC affiliates air shows at specific times because they pay for the privilege of being associated with the ABC network. That arrangement makes sense. Yet, in today’s digital age, where TikTokers often stream the show illegally or post blurry footage moments after a performance, it’s surprising that Disney hasn’t adapted to meet fan demands and potentially boost Disney+ subscriptions.

Dancing with the Stars is filmed in Hollywood, and its audience largely comprises Los Angeles locals. Ironically, if these fans were watching from home, they’d miss the chance to vote based on the live performances. This seems to contradict the show’s core premise. Maybe we’ve become attached to certain stars early on, but the show is supposed to be about merit, not blind loyalty. Could this voting system be why we’ve seen talented contestants like Lauren Jauregui, Danielle Fishel, and Jen Affleck leave before Andy Richter?

My frustration might be rooted in the voting method itself, but it’s part of a broader fairness issue with the show. How is it fair that West Coast viewers are expected to vote without watching live? Or is the implication that West Coast fans shouldn’t vote at all? This scenario raises questions about contestant appeal based on geography. While it’s a stretch, it seems plausible that East Coast viewers might prefer voting for someone like New Jersey’s Alix Earle over Utah’s Whitney Leavitt. (Admittedly, I lack scientific evidence, but this logic feels right to me.)

I just can’t understand why we’ve come so far since the early days of American Idol and shows where votes play a major role and we’re still allowing something as silly as a time zone stand in the way of equity. Why do I have to avoid spoilers like the plague and inconvenience myself in the three-hour time block before I can tune in just because that’s how it’s always worked? Make it make sense, please. We can and should fix this issue before we get to Season 35.

How To Watch Dancing With The Stars

Dancing with the Stars airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. local time on ABC and Disney+ and streams the next day on Hulu.

Disney+ offers a number of subscription options, so you can find the one that works for you. With ads, a subscription costs $10.99/month; without ads, it’s $18.99/month or $189.99/year.

There are also Disney+ bundles with Hulu, Max, and ESPN+, so you can subscribe to up to three services at once and save over 40% every month. The bundles are available in a few different configurations, starting at $12.99/month for Disney+ and Hulu with ads, and going up to $32.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and Max ad-free.