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.
Please don’t cancel! Love this show!
I still love madam secretary, I hope there is another season
great show. clean and terrific acting, family watching,
I love this show. The reason is is not doing well is because it is constantly being usurped by stupid football and award shows. You did this with The Good Wife. You never know when the show will be aired unless you look it up every week. Really stupid.
Please do not cancel Madam Secretary. We love this show and look forward to seeing it every Sunday night.
Love this show. Look forward to Sunday night’s. Do not cancel Madam Secretary.
please don’t cancel one of the few quality shows on network TV.
Time slot is the shows biggest challenge. Typically this wonderful show has been shoved from time slot to time slot. Thought provoking and relevant to today’s issues. Women should love her strength of character, but again…difficult to gain a loyal audience when you bounce the time slot around so much. In a year when women’s rights and issues are prevalent…CBS is missing the mark by not thrusting this show into the fore front. I am forced into watching this show on my computer Monday morning due to being so late at night and preparing for the work day ahead Thanks… Read more »
Please don’t cancel love it, easy to watch fast moving each week.Maybe being Scottish and watching it from Scotland I simply enjoy it as Drama I like and not having the American obsession with all things political I look orward to it each week as simply A GREAT TV SHOW WITH GREAT ACTORS.
Madame secretary is one of the shows on tv where art imitates life. Please don’t cancel the show. Because it is on late I usually have to dvr it the next day. I bet if you change the time slot to earlier ratings would rise.
It one of the better shows if not for those who are lazy and dont keep up with news; at least with this show you get an idea what global issues are;
somewhat leans to the left and a bit idealistic
are drama tv shows bias
there s a muslim’ black and even latino ,
where are the Asians; or is it relegated to the “evil” ambassador Chen who s always trying to out compete the US on China s behalf
I get it now. You don’t want to know my political aspirations, just whether or not I like Madam Secretary. Of course! What’s not to like? It follows the current political climate well. I was just hoping that our POTUS was watching as well; instead of being hooked into Kelsey Grammer’s “Boss.”
It’s because it always starts at 10 something to 10:30 during football season. Try a different night and the ratings will go up. I only watch it on demand now. Can’t be bothered trying to figure it out. How do they not know this at CBS? Seems kind of obvious. Someone there HAD to have at least thought of this.
The good heroic characters in this show are the kind of people that I wish I could spend more of my time on this earth with in real life. Their values and moral compass point in the right direction. Their sense for morality and ethics would serve as a good model for us all. I like the show a LOT, and it sets my ass on fire when it gets delayed because of football. It messes up my DVR start times. I value my recordings of this show like I value the good books on my bookshelf.
Love it!!!! Please don’t cancel