‘RHOA’ Season 16 Ratings Continue to Dive as Viewers Reject Reboot — Bravo Scrambles to Spin the Numbers

It looks like the 16th season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta is failing to make a strong first impression, delivering the lowest-rated season premiere in franchise history in the key demographic, and week by week, the ratings continue to plummet.

According to reports, while the premiere pulled in a whopping 723,000 total viewers and scored a 0.18 rating in the coveted 18-49 demo, the ratings for Episode 2 have now dropped even further—pulling in just 672,000 total viewers with a 0.16 demo rating (P18-49), marking yet another series low in the key demo.

After reports highlighted the steep decline in live viewership, Bravo attempted damage control, emphasizing delayed viewing and Peacock streaming in an effort to paint a more positive picture.

While it’s true that streaming numbers have seen some growth, it doesn’t erase the fact that RHOA’s live audience is rapidly vanishing.

For years, RHOA was Bravo’s flagship Housewives franchise, consistently delivering powerhouse ratings. But these latest numbers suggest that even longtime fans aren’t tuning in like they used to. The days of RHOA dominating Sunday nights seem to be over, and no amount of spin can change the reality that viewership is continuing to decline week after week.

With major cast changes and a season already met with lukewarm reception, the real question is—how much lower can the show go before Bravo steps in? Because at this rate, the biggest drama isn’t happening on-screen — it’s in the ratings.

*****

I think many factors play into the show's decline. One being that none of the women are interesting enough to hold down the show. RHOA has no standout personalities, like Nene Leakes, Kim Zolciak, Kenya Moore (who was just fired) or Phaedra Parks.

And even with Phaedra making her triumphant return later on in the upcoming season, is her personality enough to hold the show together.

Phaedra is good at throwing shade, but I don't think she's enough to salvage what's left of RHOA.