Why do US TV stations always cancel shows?!

[woolyback]

The license fee also covers itv, channel 4, and channel 5 - all of which do have ads. These channels have never (as far as I am aware) cancelled a show in the middle of a run.

Where did you source this from? I thought (and can only find references to) the BBC receiving funding from the licence fee

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Oops. Oh well, I don't like either

Network heads are idiots. It's the only explanation as FireFly has a massive cult following still and is generally known as one of the better Sci-Fi shows to come out in recent years. Heck, they almost cancelled Battlestar Galactica in season 4 (hence 4.5) and it's probably one of the best Sci-Fi shows in history.

luckily, sci-fi is the one genre that if there is any hope for a low rated show to stay on, it does. Probably because sic-fi translate wells to foreign markets and nerds but lots of merch. I think this is why fringe has lasted for three and counting seasons.

 

[RawBert]

Some of my favorite shows only made it through two seasons. Bummer.

 

[robbieduncan]

Where did you source this from? I thought (and can only find references to) the BBC receiving funding from the licence fee

The BBC have a page showing the breakdown of how it's spent. None of it goes to any commercial broadcaster

 

[h00ligan]

I've really been enjoying *&?! My Dad Says which has been airing here in the UK. So much so I went online to find a DVD of series 2 to carry on my enjoyment and it's been cancelled!

Same happened with Joey (a bit embarassed about that one, but I thought it was good, simple viewing) and loads of others that I can't think of right now.

Why don't they let shows bed-in?!

There is an interesting phenomenon I notice, as an expat who grew up in the us and uk. My countrymen seem to love that which is considered bad American television. Some shows considered good American television make it, but my family always ask the same question. Meanwhile the Americans always seek to remake (almost universally to detriment) good shows from the uk. Look at being human, top gear, even skins. They have been trying to reake Gavin and Stacey for years. In America we occasionally get watered down versions and some have pushed for full content. Graham norton, top gear, etc.

I think it boils down to a fundamental difference in sense of humor. Jericho is another show that was great and cancelled. Spooks is better than 24 IMO, and was renamed here. :/

One very large difference is that Americans tend to become so attached to leads, they are afraid to advance the plot by writing out. Spooks is a prime example. Would not fly here.

 

[iJohnHenry]

None of it goes to any commercial broadcaster

Oh how I wish this were still true for the CBC.

We had license fees, at the outset (yes, I was there), but someone got greedy, they dropped the fee and we got ads.

Bah!!!

 

[Tilpots]

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I actually work for Nielsen TV Ratings. It's a lot more accurate than you'd believe. The system we use and the demographic information we collect now does accurately account for viewers and the shows they watch.

Nielsen has never been, nor ever will be anywhere close to accurate until they meter every single US Household. The local diary system is a joke and even the metered markets are heavily flawed. Why doesn't Nielsen use the cable and satellite companies data to accurately measure as many connected homes as possible?

 

[DocNYz]

Lack of ratings = no money from advertisers = show gets cancelled. Doesn't matter if the show is good or not.

Exactly it's pretty simple. The public is stupid and has bad taste, if they don't watch a show it won't make money, and the studio won't spend money to get nothing in return.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

The license fee also covers itv, channel 4, and channel 5 - all of which do have ads. These channels have never (as far as I am aware) cancelled a show in the middle of a run.

You need a licence to watch the telly, be it the BBC, one of the commercial 'terrestrial' channels you list or satellite/cable – but only the BBC receives money from the licence fee. Everyone else gets their revenue in from sources like advertising, proceeds from phone ins, and selling shows overseas.

 

[mscriv]

It's gotten to the point that I told my wife I won't watch a new show until mid way through our even after the first season, just so I know it will still be around. It stinks when you waste your time watching a show and get invested in the story/characters only to have it cancelled.

It's also annoying when they mess with the day and time of airing. My DVR guarantees I can watch the program whenever I want, but when they start changing days and times around it definitely jacks up the ability to objectively measure that show because changing the time slot alters the competing shows to which it's being compared.

 

[johneaston]

Where did you source this from? I thought (and can only find references to) the BBC receiving funding from the licence fee

ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 get small amounts of government money to subsidise making certain programmes that no-one wants to watch (like religious programmes) but they have to transimit as part of their licence conditions.

The few times I've discussed the world of TV with Americans, they've laughed/mocked the licence fee, but I think it certainly keeps-up the standard of all British TV.

Two And A Half Men (xx series) vs **** My Dad Says (1 series) says it all for me. So, so confused why **** My Dad Says got axed.