If you were watching TV in 1997, you probably remember the quiet takeover of Arlen, Texas. It wasn't loud like South Park or hyperactive like The Simpsons. It was just... there. And for some reason, we couldn't stop watching. People often get king of the hill ratings confused with the show's cultural footprint, thinking it was a niche hit. Honestly? It was a juggernaut that occasionally outpaced the biggest names in animation.
The show premiered to nearly 15 million viewers. That is a massive number by today's standards, where a "hit" on streaming might only pull a fraction of that in its first week. But back then, Mike Judge and Greg Daniels had a secret weapon: the Sunday night "Animation Domination" block on Fox. It gave them the perfect lead-in, but the show actually stood on its own two feet.
Why King of the Hill Ratings Surprised Everyone in the 90s
Most people assume The Simpsons was the undisputed king of the hill during the late 90s. In reality, during the 1997-1998 season, King of the Hill actually outperformed its yellow-skinned lead-in. It averaged about 16.3 million viewers per episode. The Simpsons was sitting at 15.3 million.
It's wild to think about now.
Hank Hill was pulling in more households than Homer Simpson. Why? Well, it likely had to do with the "relatability factor." While The Simpsons was getting increasingly surreal, King of the Hill stayed grounded. It captured a specific slice of Middle America that advertisers were desperate to reach.
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However, there's a nuance here. While more people were watching Hank at 8:30 PM, the "share"—the percentage of people with their TVs actually turned on who were watching a specific show—was higher for The Simpsons. Basically, more people were watching TV in general during the 8:30 slot, but The Simpsons was more dominant in its own half-hour.
The Slow Decline and the "Canceled" Myth
The show ran for 13 seasons. That’s a long time.
Naturally, the king of the hill ratings started to dip as the years went by. By the time we hit the mid-2000s, the landscape of TV had changed. Family Guy had come back from the dead, and American Dad! was taking up oxygen. By Season 13, the average viewership had dropped to around 6 million.
Fox eventually pulled the plug in 2009. But here’s the thing: it wasn't canceled because nobody was watching. It was canceled to make room for The Cleveland Show. Looking back, that decision feels... questionable. The series finale, "To Sirloin with Love," still pulled in about 6.11 million viewers, which was a solid number for a show that had been on the air for over a decade.
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The 2025 Hulu Revival: A New Era of Viewership
Fast forward to August 2025. Hulu finally dropped the revival. The world had changed, but apparently, our love for propane and propane accessories hadn't.
According to internal data and reporting from Deadline, the Season 14 premiere was a massive success. It racked up 4.4 million views in its first seven days. That made it the most-watched adult animated season premiere on Hulu and Disney+ in five years.
Streaming ratings are a different beast than the old Nielsen days. We don't just look at "households" anymore. We look at engagement and "hours watched." Since the revival was announced, viewership of the original 13 seasons actually surged by 41% on streaming platforms. People were binging the old stuff to get ready for the new stuff.
Comparing the Eras
- The Golden Era (1997-2000): Consistently above 10 million viewers. High water mark was Season 2.
- The Late Fox Years (2005-2009): Hovered between 5 and 8 million. Still profitable, but "old" in network eyes.
- The Syndication Boom: Adult Swim and Comedy Central reruns kept the brand alive for a decade.
- The Hulu Revival (2025-Present): 4.4 million weekly viewers for the premiere. Renewed through Season 17 already.
What This Means for You
If you're a fan or a content creator, these king of the hill ratings tell a specific story: consistency wins. The show never had the massive peaks of South Park controversies, but it also never had the "zombie" phase where everyone stopped caring.
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Here are the actionable takeaways from the data:
- Syndication is the real hero: The show's longevity is thanks to its "comfort watch" status. It performs incredibly well in the background, which is why Hulu was willing to bet on a revival decades later.
- Demographics matter: The show still hits that "Adult 18-49" demographic harder than most. It’s a group that has disposable income, which makes the show valuable to streamers even if the raw numbers are lower than a Netflix viral hit.
- Quality over Gimmicks: The revival’s 98% Rotten Tomatoes score proves that sticking to the original tone works.
If you want to track the ongoing performance of the new seasons, keep an eye on the "Top 10" lists on Hulu. Unlike cable, streaming success is measured by how long a show stays in that list, not just the "live" numbers on Monday night. The show has already been renewed for Season 16 and 17, which means the bean counters are very happy with what they're seeing.
The best way to support the show now is simply to keep it on. The algorithm rewards completion rates—so if you start an episode, finish it. That’s the modern version of a Nielsen box.