As it stands right now, President Tom Kirkman is stepping down tonight. ABC has cancelled the Designated Survivor TV show so there won’t be a third season on the alphabet network. However, there are efforts afoot to find the series a new home. Would you watch Designated Survivor on another channel?
A political thriller, Designated Survivor stars Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Adan Canto, LaMonica Garrett, Kal Penn, Maggie Q, Malik Yoba, Paulo Costanzo, Zoe McLellan, Ben Lawson, Tanner Buchanan, and Mckenna Grace. The conspiracy drama series centers on Tom Kirkman (Sutherland). After an attack on Capitol Hill wipes out the line of succession, this HUD Secretary becomes President of the United States. In Designated Survivor, season two, President Kirkman is on the hunt for the terrorists who destroyed the Capitol, even as he handles the daily Oval Office crises.
The Designated Survivor series debuted in September 2016 to very strong ratings but the numbers fell over the course of the first season. It ended up averaging a 1.25 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 5.84 million viewers — about half the ratings of the series premiere. The series could have been cancelled but ABC gave it another chance and ordered a second season.
Season two got off to a decent start but the ratings quickly dropped and have kept on falling. The second season is currently averaging a 0.71 demo rating with 3.95 million. To no surprise, ABC cancelled Designated Survivor last week.
There has been talk that the show’s producer, eOne, is shopping the series to other outlets. Netflix is considering picking up the series but that option is not without its challenges.
Moving a show to a new outlet is an expensive and risky prospect since there’s no guarantee that fans of a cancelled show will follow the series to its new home.
What do you think? Would you follow Designated Survivor to a new channel or streaming service? Would you watch season three elsewhere?
My family and friends will follow Designared Survivor wherever it goes! Extremely disappointed in the network for dropping one of our favorite shows. This will definitely determine how much we watch anything else on this network. ABC- do you not care about your older viewers (40 plus) who have loyal to you longer than the younger generation viewers have been alive!
Have some compassion and provide the entertainment we love. Please, ABC. This could turn into another NFL debacle.
I loved this show!! I would follow it anywhere it’s aired.
I loved this show as it reminded me of The West Wing. Why do you only care about people under 49 and what they watch? I am a low income senior and don’t have cable as I can’t afford it. So if it moves to cable I can’t watch it. I know my senior neighbor watches it too and she has cable. Please bring it back.
A big mistake by ABC. The network seems to disregard viewer loyalty and strength of their commitment to a show A cable station would be wise to pick up this quality show, to supplement lower quality, transient programs. The acting is strong, the topics are current and addressed in realistic ways, and the presentation of a President who is moral, principled and a true public servant is one we need to see in the current time.
Yes, I would certainly follow this show. The cast is great and the storyline is very good!
Oh, your kidding! I hardly watch TV and when I do, it was 2 series that caught my attention: The Blacklist & Designated Survivor. Come on guys, don’t do this to me!!!
Yes, most definitely! Love the show!
I would definitely watch – I love Keifer!
I loved designated survivor and I am very disappointed in this network. This show had a great story line and taught us things regarding our government. Little sex with some violence and that seems to be a drawback for stronger ratings.
This is such a great political thriller. I loved it. It has great acting and storyline. Please reconsider canceling it. ABC is forcing me to watch CBS all the time for great stories. I will follow Designated Survivor to another channel!
Why cancel this incredible show? Was it due to the fact that an actor, even though scripted,
made a better president than the buffoon sitting in the White House?
Designated Survivor is an excellent thriller and has a level of decency and common sense that is currently not prevalent in our American society – political and otherwise. Too bad we can’t learn from what the producers, writers and actors have tried to portray in this series and to set an example of some of the challenges that the government might face and how decisions are made. Please find a way to produce Season 3 and make it available on tv or whatever media is available to the American public, preferably not requiring an expensive set up. Thank you. Sara… Read more »
Absolutely!! My husband and I LOVED LOVE this show! Please DO NOT cancel! The acting is fantastic and we love the story line!
I would definitely follow this show to another channel. ABC is cancelling so many good shows. What is wrong with them. The Crossing, Deception, Designated Survivor, Kevin Probably Saves the World. Something seems wrong with their system.
Yes, I would absolutely follow this show to another channel or outlet. Please find a way to keep it going. Jennifer McGavern… Ohio USA