The Bachelor will return to ABC for a landmark 30th season, with Scott Teti stepping in as the new executive producer and showrunner. Teti previously led Bachelor in Paradise and now takes over the flagship series as it looks to steady its footing after a soft year in the ratings.
The most recent season, fronted by 31-year-old former basketball player Grant Ellis, wrapped in March. Over the course of Season 29, Ellis dated 25 contestants across international stops including Scotland, Madrid, and the Dominican Republic. The season averaged a 0.43 rating in adults 18-49 and 2.61 million total viewers with delayed viewing factored in. That marks a 31% decline in the demo and a 25% drop in overall viewership compared to Season 28.
Despite the slide, The Bachelor remains a key title for ABC’s unscripted slate. It still ranked third among all broadcast reality series in the demo this past season, helped by its consistent January launch slot and cross-platform branding.
Jesse Palmer will return as host, continuing a role he has held since Season 26. Ellis, who entered the franchise as a runner-up on The Bachelorette with Jenn Tran, kept the format largely intact but didn’t reverse the show’s viewership trend.
The decision to install Teti signals a shift behind the scenes. ABC has not confirmed a premiere date for Season 30, but if the network holds to recent tradition, the show will return in early January. Production remains based in Los Angeles with travel arcs still central to the format.
The renewal secures The Bachelor through a milestone run, but ABC will be watching closely to see if a new hand at the wheel can bring back lost viewers.
