Can “favorite” Survivor players from the past help bring back big ratings to this venerable reality series? Could CBS cut the Jeff Probst series back to air just one cycle per season? We’ll have to wait and see.

Below are the TV show’s ratings for the Spring 2012-13 season, the best way to tell if Survivor will be renewed for another cycle. Survivor airs on Wednesday nights on CBS. There are usually 15 or 16 episodes per season.

These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:

Final season averages: 2.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 9.47 million total viewers.

Episode 26-15: Sunday, 05/12/13
2.2 in the demo (-19% change) with 8.13 million (-20% change).
Season averages: 2.56 in the demo with 9.47 million.

Episode 26-14: Sunday, 05/12/13
2.7 in the demo (+4% change) with 10.16 million (+7% change).
Season averages: 2.59 in the demo with 9.57 million.

Episode 26-13: Wednesday, 05/08/13
2.6 in the demo (+8% change) with 9.51 million (+3% change).
Season averages: 2.58 in the demo with 9.52 million.

Episode 26-12: Wednesday, 05/01/13
2.4 in the demo (-17% change) with 9.25 million (-10% change).
Season averages: 2.58 in the demo with 9.53 million.

Episode 26-11: Wednesday, 04/24/13
2.9 in the demo (+7% change) with 10.31 million (+3% change).
Season averages: 2.59 in the demo with 9.55 million.

Episode 26-10: Wednesday, 04/17/13
2.7 in the demo (+4% change) with 9.99 million (+7% change).
Season averages: 2.56 in the demo with 9.47 million.

Episode 26-09: Wednesday, 04/10/13
2.6 in the demo (+4% change) with 9.38 million (+1% change).
Season averages: 2.54 in the demo with 9.42 million.

Episode 26-08: Wednesday, 04/03/13
2.5 in the demo (0% change) with 9.25 million (-2% change).
Season averages: 2.54 in the demo with 9.42 million.

Episode 26-07: Wednesday, 03/27/13
2.5 in the demo (-4% change) with 9.43 million (-4% change).
Season averages: 2.54 in the demo with 9.45 million.

UPDATE: Survivor has been renewed for a 27th season by CBS.

Episode 26-06: Wednesday, 03/20/13
2.6 in the demo (-4% change) with 9.79 million (-1% change).
Season averages: 2.55 in the demo with 9.45 million.

Episode 26-05: Wednesday, 03/13/13
2.7 in the demo (+4% change) with 9.89 million (+3% change).
Season averages: 2.54 in the demo with 9.38 million.

Episode 26-04: Wednesday, 03/06/13
2.6 in the demo (0% change) with 9.58 million (+5% change).
Season averages: 2.50 in the demo with 9.25 million.

Episode 26-03: Wednesday, 02/27/13
2.6 in the demo (+8% change) with 9.17 million (-2% change).
Season averages: 2.47 in the demo with 9.14 million.

Episode 26-02: Wednesday, 02/20/13
2.4 in the demo (0% change) with 9.32 million (+4% change).
Season averages: 2.40 in the demo with 9.13 million.

Episode 26-01: Wednesday, 02/13/13
2.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 8.94 million total viewers.
Season averages: 2.40 in the demo with 8.94 million.

Historically, this was the lowest-rated season premiere for Survivor. Year-to-year, the series was down by 23% in the demo (vs a 3.1 rating) and down by 17% in viewership (vs 10.79 million).

Reference point: The Spring 2011-12 season averaged a 2.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 10.07 million total viewers.

Note: These ratings are collected by the Nielsen company and are the final national numbers. These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings and are reported on by most other outlets. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.

What do you think? Do you like the Survivor TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a 27th season?