Key Takeaways
- There have been a significant number of TV show cancellations in 2023, spanning various genres and platforms, including streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, as well as cable-TV channels like Showtime and AMC.
- Alternative viewing patterns have emerged, with viewers becoming more hesitant to start new shows before they have ended due to concerns about cancellations, unresolved endings, and cliffhangers.
- A YouGov poll reveals that one in four US adults now waits for a streaming original to conclude before watching it, with 48% of respondents who prefer waiting until the series finale before watching it mentioning a fondness for binge-watching.
- Almost half of the American population (46%) occasionally or always waits for a series to reach its conclusion before starting to watch, with this tendency more pronounced among the 18-to-34-year-old demographic.
- The indeterminate future of television and the impact of frequent cancellations on viewing habits raise questions about production and promotion strategies for networks and streaming platforms.
The year 2023 has proven to be a harsh one for television series, with a mounting number of cancellations on streaming services such as HBO Max, Netflix, and Hulu, as well as cable-TV channels like Showtime and AMC.
Some networks have gone as far as removing existing content from their platforms to benefit from tax incentives.
As countless shows face the chopping block this year, fans are left in limbo, questioning if their beloved series survived the onslaught.
Terminated Series: Noteworthy Mentions
The range of canceled shows spans various genres, including drama, comedy, and action-adventure. Notable cancellations include “61st Street” (AMC), a series that delves into institutional racism and corruption within the Chicago legal system, “1899” (Netflix), a mysterious show set aboard a ship en route from England to New York in 1899, and “American Gigolo” (Showtime), a series inspired by Paul Schrader’s 1980 movie of the same title.
Other fan-favorites that were cut include “Avenue 5” (HBO), “Big Shot” (Disney+), “Blood & Treasure” (CBS, Paramount+), and “Dead End: Paranormal Park” (Netflix). This year has also witnessed the termination of long-established series such as “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS) and “Judge Mathis”.
Emergence of Alternative Viewing Patterns
As TV series face frequent cancellations, U.S. audiences are altering their approach to selecting shows to watch.
According to a YouGov poll, one in four U.S. adults now waits for a streaming original to conclude before watching it, with 27% expressing concerns over potential cancellations with unresolved endings and 24% wanting to avoid waiting for the next season following a cliffhanger.
Furthermore, 48% of respondents who prefer waiting until the series finale before watching it mentioned a fondness for binge-watching.
The year 2023 has proven to be a harsh one for television series, with a mounting number of cancellations on streaming services such as HBO Max, Netflix, and Hulu, as well as cable-TV channels like Showtime and AMC.
The Ramifications for Viewers
The YouGov poll also revealed that almost half of the American population (46%) occasionally or always waits for a series to reach its conclusion before starting to watch.
This tendency is more pronounced among the 18-to-34-year-old demographic, with 25% claiming they always wait and 34% admitting they sometimes wait.
Moreover, 31% of U.S. adults utilizing streaming services to view original series estimated that between one and three shows they had started since February 2022 had been canceled, leaving plotlines hanging.
In the U.S., women (50%) are more likely than men (46%) to wait for a show to reach its finale, as they prefer to watch all seasons in one go.
The Indeterminate Future of Television
The significant number of cancellations in 2023 has profoundly impacted the television sector and the manner in which audiences engage with content.
As an increasing number of viewers become hesitant to start new shows before they have ended, networks and streaming platforms might have to reconsider their production and promotion strategies.
In the current atmosphere of instability, the future of television is uncertain as viewers adopt new methods to deal with the ever-evolving landscape.
