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 the show its great , cast wonderful, writing intelligent
I love this show. It’s the only one I watch regularly. It’s such an accurate portrayal of the role-switching working mothers must do daily, paying full attention to each aspect of their lives as crises occur. Inspirational. Viewers likely down because of the Sunday night time slot – the show is often bumped.
Have got very fed up, to much the same old story. I no longer watch it.
Please keep Madam Secretary on. Love this show. The CBS big shots need to move this show back to 8PM or 9PM. When it was put on at 10PM the hour is to late for morning get up working folks. Do Not Cancel this show give it a another chance put it on at an earlier time.
please renew
If the network would give Madam Secretary a consistent time and not preempt it for sports, music awards, oscars and other drivel, the viewership would be commited to the show. That disappoints viewers, and they give up trying to follow the story line. Devote a time slot to Madame Secretary, air a full episode religiously each time it is supposed to be on, and do not allow specials to preempt it.
Madam Secretary should be renewed!! This is a great show in a horrible time slot. It is always delayed due to sporting events over running their time slots, and all shows in the Sunday lineup are pushed back. It was almost midnight when Madam Secretary ended this evening. Give this great show a chance..and a better time to air!!!!
Love this show!!! Please don’t cancel it?
Please put this show on another night and time. Monday, Wednesday, even Saturday but not at 10pm.
Madam Secretary is the best show on TV now
I look forward to watching it every Sunday.
I really love that part of the show is about her family, and the other part madam secretary and her husband’s careers. Please don’t cancel!
Please don’t cancel this show. We absolutely love it. Right on point. Cast is fabulous. Maybe you should try another night to bring the ratings up. But please please don’t cancel the show.
I Love this show!
I love this show!
Please keep it on the air.
This show is AMAZING! It would do better in the ratings if moved back to 8 or 9pm. And almost any other night would be better than Sunday. Give the show a fighting chance!
Really enjoy the show. Look forward to watching it on Sunday night after football.