Disney is expanding the show's reach to streaming audiences while maintaining its traditional broadcast presence. The exclusive episodes give charity-minded celebrities an even bigger platform to win life-changing donations for causes they care about.
Insiders say Disney has been quietly testing whether game shows can thrive with split-platform releases—and if these ten episodes perform, expect the network to expand this model across its unscripted slate. The real question: will linear audiences feel like second-class fans?
Ten new Celebrity Wheel of Fortune episodes premiere exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu on Friday, June 12, 2026—before airing again on ABC at a later date. The show previously operated under Pat Sajak's decades-long tenure as sole host.
Disney is playing games with its audience—and betting that loyal fans will follow the wheel wherever it spins. Whether that loyalty translates to streaming subscriptions remains to be seen, but one thing's certain: the network isn't afraid to split its own audience to get answers.
The beloved game show franchise just made a move that's got Hollywood buzzing—and not everyone is thrilled about it. Deadline reports that Celebrity Wheel of Fortune will air its seventh season on ABC this fall as usual. But here's where things get interesting: ten brand-new episodes will drop exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu on Friday, June 12—before ever touching linear television.
Those same episodes will eventually get a second run on ABC at some point, making this the first time one of Disney's unscripted shows has had original episodes airing simultaneously across both platforms. Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White are hosting the exclusive streaming batch, which features celebrities spinning for charity prizes up to $1 million. The guest list reads like a who's-who of sports stars, comedians, and actors: Los Angeles Dodgers Freddie Freeman, Kiké Hernández, and Miguel Rojas; Hasan Minhaj, Yvonne Orji, and Michael Urie; New Girl trio Hannah Simone, Lamorne Morris, and Jake Johnson; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward; WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella; Brian Austin Green; and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, among many others.
Kristen Kish, Action Bronson, Joel Kim Booster, Sarah Chalke, Jordin Sparks, and a slew of other notable names round out the roster. Now, let's talk about what's really going on here. Disney previously moved Dancing with the Stars exclusively to Disney+ for Season 31—a controversial decision that sent shockwaves through the reality TV world.
But this is different. This isn't a full network migration; it's something far more calculated. By releasing these ten episodes on streaming first, then giving them a second life on linear television, Disney is essentially running an experiment: Can they generate enough streaming buzz from exclusive content to justify splitting their audience?
The tea is that execs have been quietly watching whether this hybrid model could work for game shows specifically—and if the numbers look good, expect other franchises to get the same treatment. There's also something noteworthy about Seacrest's position here. He inherited the hosting gig after Pat Sajak's decades-long reign ended, and while Vanna White has always been a fixture, this format puts her alongside him in a more co-hosting capacity rather than her traditional letter-turning role.
The dynamic feels subtly different—more partnership than sidekick arrangement—and sources close to production say there's been genuine energy between the two hosts during filming. Hulu previously experimented with exclusive content using Family Guy episodes that never aired on Fox, but that was animated content from 20th Television Animation. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune is produced by Sony Pictures Television under executive producer Bellamie Blackstone—a completely different animal in terms of production scale and celebrity logistics.
Getting this many high-profile names to commit to a game show is no small feat, which suggests Disney's deep pockets and streaming ambitions convinced some reluctant celebrities to take the plunge. Whether fans will follow the wheel to streaming—or simply wait for the ABC re-air—remains the million-dollar question. Literally.
