Jeopardy! regains ratings lead while Wheel of Fortune sees decline after Seacrest's debut

"Jeopardy!" has regained its lead in ratings, attracting 8.43 million viewers during the week of January 20-26. This increase follows a notable performance by contestant Drew Goins in the Champions Wild Card Tournament. In contrast, "Wheel of Fortune" saw a decline, with 8.11 million viewers. This drop comes five months after Ryan Seacrest took over hosting duties from Pat Sajak, who retired in 2024. Viewer feedback suggests dissatisfaction with the consistent $40,000 prize in the Bonus Round, leading to speculation about the lack of higher amounts. This may have contributed to the show's lower ratings compared to "Jeopardy!"