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?
I really enjoy this show. It’s got plot twists and turns and keeps the viewer guessing. I would follow the show to Netflix but am tired of the “regular” stations dropping everything that isn’t sexually based. I enjoy a show that may show love interests but doesn’t feel the need to show all the details. Besides, who doesn’t love Kiefer?!
I certainly would
Yes. I would watch Designated Survivor if it was moved to another channel. Not streaming though. I don’t watch television that way.
Please revisit. Really great show. Was totally hooked. Look into other network. PLEASE. GREAT ACTING.
This is unfortunate to be cancelled. I looked forward to watching this on a weekly basis — to bad it is/was the only program I watched on ABC. Looks like ABC needs to look at it’s programming as NO ONE WATCHES YOU!
I really like this show and would follow it anywhere. I agree wholeheartedly with commenter Joanne M, and would only add that networks try to compete with well established shows and think people are going to leave their fav shows for a new one. Put new shows in a lineup where they stand a chance, not diminish them from the beginning. I refuse to watch Reality shows or scripted sitcoms. The networks do a horrendous job with comedy. I have a better brain than what they offer for comedy.
I would follow this show anywhere. I love the acting and the storylines. They don’t go to far in either direction on the politico scene. Tom Kirkman has a great moral compass.
I really enjoyed the plot and the characters on DESIGNATED SURVIVOR. Before this program I never knew what a “designated survivor” was..
I’ll follow this show wherever it goes. Can’t say that about any other show on ABC other than General Hospital. I think the problem is that the networks are frozen in this ‘demographic’ idea of 18-49. People over 49 have opinions too, and we pay money for our TV and cable and we have brains. WE don’t want all reality TV. WE don’t care about 6 different iterations of the Bachelor. WE want something intelligent. So if this show can be picked up elsewhere, I’m going there.
yes i sure will! abc has let the viewers down! they have cancelled 3 of the shows i watch on their channel so i will quit watching all together if they add more stupid reality shows! i live reality every day, i don’t want to watch it for pleasure!
Yep, I’ll follow it & drop ABC. You’ve cancelled my favorite shows. Why would I watch you anymore? You’ll just add more idiotic “reality” shows. Who ever is making these stupid decisions must be on drugs!!!!!
I would follow Designated Survivor to a streaming network. I don’t know who is in charge of cancelling shows this year but they’ve got it wrong. Ive watched more ABC this year than I have in years! But everything Ive tuned in for has been cancelled. The crossing, deception, the chew, designated survivor, the great American baking show. You’ve lost a following in Virginia when they are gone, especially if your replacements are tired reboots of the 90’s like Roseanne. Not funny then, not funny now.
Love this show!!!
the best series of all times. Please do not cancel it.
Great show, good casting of course you would want to cancel??? what is the problem with the decision makers??? they certainly do not know their audience who enjoy and want more of this programing