Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 18 is Unwatchable
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Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 18 has a serious streaming problem, and The Hollywood Reporter called it out. MTV advertises Rupaul’s Drag Race as airing live every Friday at 8PM on cable, but only 36% of Americans still report subscribing to cable. And even if you do have cable, that doesn’t guarantee access to MTV unless you pay for the right package, which in many areas costs $40+ a month and requires a physical cable box. In 2026. Be serious. Virtual cable options like Philo ($33/month), Fubo ($55.99), or Hulu + Live TV ($82.99) are all listed as Drag Race watching options, but how is that affordable? Streaming should be the solution. 83% of Americans use streaming services, and MTV even promotes Paramount+ as an option. But the catch is, Season 18 isn’t available on Paramount+ at all and won’t be until after the season ends.
So if you don’t have cable, and Paramount+ doesn’t actually have the show, where exactly are fans supposed to watch Drag Race?
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The cast of Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 18 includes Athena Dion, Briar Blush, Ciara Myst, Darlene Mitchell, DD Fuego, Discord Addams, Jane Don’t, Juicy Love Dion, Kenya Pleaser, Mandy Mango, Mia Starr, Myki Meeks, Nini Coco, and Vita VonTesse Starr.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Rupaul’s Drag Race Is Unwatchable
00:10 No One Subscribes to Cable Anymore
01:18 Watching Drag Race is TOO EXPENSIVE
04:35 Fans Are Giving Up
07:04 Deadline’s Questionable Reporting on Ratings
12:20 The Truth About Drag Race Viewership
14:29 The Problem With Drag Race’s Availability
15:34 The Queens Are Hurting
16:19 Final Thoughts and Patron Shoutouts
Video edited in collaboration with Set Sail Videos: https://setsailvideos.com
SOURCES
Does RuPaul’s Drag Race Have a Streaming Problem?
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rupauls-drag-race-streaming-problem-where-to-watch-1236467794/
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 Premiere Slays As Most-Watched Episode In Franchise’s History
https://deadline.com/2021/01/rupauls-drag-race-season-13-premiere-vh1-ratings-most-watched-episode-1234664587/
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 Premiere Marks Franchise’s Highest-Rated Debut Since 2018
https://deadline.com/2022/01/rupauls-drag-race-season-14-premiere-ratings-1234907762/
RuPaul’s Drag Race Sees Highest-Rated Season Premiere In 6 Years With Move To MTV
https://deadline.com/2023/01/rupauls-drag-race-season-15-premiere-ratings-mtv-1235215408/
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 Ushers In Series’ Highest-Rated Premiere In Six Years In L3
https://deadline.com/2024/01/rupauls-drag-race-season-16-premiere-ratings-mtv-1235710071/
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 Debuts To Another Ratings High In Competition Series’ Third Year On MTV
https://deadline.com/2025/02/rupauls-drag-race-season-17-premiere-ratings-mtv-1236281475/
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 Premiere Sets Viewership Record At MTV, Delivering Double-Digit Growth Over Last Season
https://deadline.com/2026/01/rupauls-drag-race-season-18-premiere-ratings-record-mtv-1236666012/
83% of U.S. adults use streaming services, far fewer subscribe to cable or satellite TV
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/01/83-of-us-adults-use-streaming-services-far-fewer-subscribe-to-cable-or-satellite-tv/
Yes Verizon FiOS
The cheapest I found is to rent on Amazon Prime Video.
VPN
I am in Canada, so I am able to watch the main US show on Amazon Prime through the OUT add-on for about 7$ a month.
This would have been the perfect video to be sponsored by a VPN. I watch drag race through WOW using a VPN to change my location to outside the US.
Holy crap. I’m in Europe and WOW app is pretty shit but at least we can watch drag race. There is no way I would pay $33 a month. And I can’t believe the new series isn’t on Paramount+ until it’s over.
Time for that surfshark VPN sponsorship code … 👀
Maybe that’s the point? We’re facing such a pendulum swing to the right that maybe they’re sabotaging the show on purpose at this point
For $33 a month you’d be better off going to your local bar to watch it!
Practice your sea shanties, darlings. We’re sailing the high seas. 😊