CBS still hasn’t cancelled its Madam Secretary TV show, despite Nielsen ratings declines in both its 18-49 year old demo and total viewership numbers. In the 2016-17 television season, this show’s demo ratings ranked 20th out of 26 scripted CBS series, but it drew enough viewers to rank eighth in terms of audience size. Although the Tiffany Network’s viewers tend to skew older, how long will this show’s performance suffice? Since the fourth season should give it a decent sized package to sell in syndication, will Madam Secretary be cancelled or renewed for season five? Stay tuned.
A political drama airing on the CBS television network, Madam Secretary stars Téa Leoni, Tim Daly, Bebe Neuwirth, Željko Ivanek, Keith Carradine, Sebastian Arcelus, Patina Miller, Geoffrey Arend, Erich Bergen, Kathrine Herzer, Wallis Currie-Wood, and Evan Roe. The drama follows the shrewd, determined Elizabeth McCord (Leoni). As U.S. Secretary of State, she battles office politics, while driving diplomacy and negotiating global deals.
Elizabeth was once a CIA analyst, who exited that post for ethical reasons. She later returned to public life, at the request of President Conrad Dalton (Carradine). He values her apolitical leanings, knowledge of the Middle East, flair for languages, and unconventional thinking. Elizabeth is married to Henry (Daly), a former theology professor who is now an intelligence operative. Together, they’re bringing up three children, which can really test her diplomatic skills.
The ratings are typically the best sign of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly in the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — usually the next day, around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.
5/21 update: You can see the latest night’s ratings in context.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view it here.
For comparisons: The third season of Madam Secretary averaged a 0.88 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 8.286 million total viewers.
Note: These are the Live + Same Day Ratings which include “live” viewing plus delayed DVR viewing, up until 3am local time that same night. Ratings marked with an “*” are the fast affiliate ratings and will be updated with the Live+SD numbers when they are made available. Typically, networks get paid for C+3 ratings which includes DVR viewing within three days of the original airing when commercials are watched. Those numbers are rarely released to the press.
What do you think? Do you still like the Madam Secretary TV series? Should it be cancelled or renewed for season five on CBS?
4/18/18 update: CBS has renewed Madam Secretary for a fifth season for 2018-19. Details here.
Madam Secretary is the best Sunday shoe they have but in the worst time slot switch it to 8:00 and watch the ratings rise.
Madam Secretary is one of the best TV shows on TV. The problem with ratings is the time slot you have it in. You need to put it in a time slot that isn’t going to be when more people are available to watch it and when it isn’t going to get bump by sports or the President talking.
Please don’t cancel !!!! Absolutely love this show x
Keep this show going …! Descent show with integrity that builds on character values that in our real world would be ideal! Very inspiring!
This show is a breath of fresh air! PLEASE DON’T CANCEL! The last show of season 4 was brilliant.
Please renew for season five!
We love this show but I think they are using the wrong age group and viewing services. The baby boomer group should be significant. We are 60 and 64 and have switched our viewing to Apple TV for the past 7 years. We do not have cable or satellite but watch through Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. We now get HBO free with our wireless service. We think the ratings are missing the boat with viewers. Our parents are in their 80s and our kids range 32 – 39. Funny, we all use the same type of TV viewing and… Read more »
Why do the networks only care what the 18-49 age group watch? Us older people are more likely to be home watching TV than the younger people. Tired of shows I enjoy being canceled because the young people aren’t watching them.
Please keep this show going. Outstanding cast and love the storyline. Great series for a more mature audience and super popular with our friends.
Loving the show. Please keep it going. Really popular with a more mature audience (all of our friends). We are really enjoying the storyline and the cast is brilliant!
I like this show and I hope CBS doesn’t cancel it! Perhaps the time slot should change to maybe 8 pm. My only critique is the too good to be true kids! Loved the episode where Jason rebelled! Definitely need more of that.
These actors must pay these people to beg for not cancel this show. It used to be good, but it’s dead to me since they started to bring in the current political. No wonder their rating is down to the toilet. Goodbye Madame Secretary.
CBS should not even consider cancelling Madam Secretary. The show is one of the most entertaining on television, has excellent actors and a great story line. What CBS should do is put it into a different time slot on a weekday evening! IMO, ratings for this show would double!!!
Have loved the show, until just recently when you really tried to push your opinion with your own political reality. Quite annoying and obvious, even if the viewer believes something similar, now they will believe reality is at an extreme. When it isn’t, and quite the opposite. Unless the viewer only watches CNN. lol It was a great show though! Time to go..
Really I see you show a certain age group. So are the other age groups chopped liver. I really like this show and cannot understand why you are even thinking about canceling,.. better than football!!!