Fans of the Motive TV show won’t find the series on the ABC schedule this summer. The US network has decided to drop the Canadian police drama after two seasons.
Motive revolves around a strong-willed Vancouver detective (Kristin Lehman) who’s also a single mom. At the start of each episode, viewers are shown the killer and victims. As the criminal investigation progresses, details of what led to the crime are revealed via flashbacks. The rest of the cast includes Louis Ferreira, Lauren Holly, Roger Cross, Brendan Penny, and Cameron Bright.
Produced in Canada, ABC licensed the show to air in the US during the summer months. Though it has some devout fans, the series’ ratings were pretty poor. The first season attracted an average of a 0.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 4.96 million viewers. Last summer’s second season drew a 0.8 rating with 4.07 million.
While ABC has “cancelled” the series here in the States, the show will continue to air in Canada. It was renewed for a third season in May 2014 and those episodes are currently running on CTV. The network has just announced that Motive has been picked up for a fourth season and will resume production in the fall.
It is possible that another US channel could pick up the series since licensing a show costs much less than producing original programming of their own. Cable channel ION picked up imports The Listener and Flashpoint after they were dropped by NBC and CBS respectively.
What do you think? Do you like the Motive TV show? Should ABC have dropped it? Would you watch seasons three and four on another channel?
Really enjoyed this show. Different concept than most police dramas. Good cast. Hope another channel picks it up.
Ugh is abc trying to kill us now it’s motive first it was FOREVER why oh why since Canada has renewed it does anyone no how we can watch it please help thanks
We really liked this show. Sorry to see ABC not airing season 3 here in the US. Another bad move ABC.
I have been searching and searching for some news that ABC would pick up season three for the last 6 months, and this was NOT the answer I was hoping for. I would DEFINITELY watch seasons 3 and 4 on a different network. Maybe it will go to ION. I am sooo done with ABC and the crappy shows they choose to keep, while cancelling great shows like Motive and Forever.
Why do they keep doing this. I loved Forever and I loved Motive. It made me look forward not having to watch summer reruns.
When will the networks learn that the old ratings game is outdated and stupid. They must include all of the after original broadcast viewing. This would give them a more accurate number. Millions of us do not ever watch the original broadcast, but do watch online, etc. This is the new TV & they must change or the networks will continue to make the wrong choices.
I am going to miss this show. 🙁 If a different station picks it up I hope it’s announced here so I can watch it. Is there another way to watch the show? Like Netflix maybe?
It’s on Youtube – search for Motive Season 3
I would watch season 3 and 4 and so on. love the show.
How dare you cancel motive and forever. These are my very favorite shows. I look forward them. Now I have nothing to look forward to.
Two very good shows (Forever and Motive) and you cancelled both. I hope both are picked up by other smarter networks.
When Castle goes off nothing to watch on ABC!
Loved this show and also Forever–both which were dropped. Why doesn’t ABC ever try another time slot before giving up?
Abc is saving a dollar or two, but like was said previously, this show and forever were the only ones worth watching for me. Goodbye, abc (always be crappy), maybe I’ll watch something when your current group of network idiots are replaced
Good job ABC. First Forever and now this. There is no reason to tune to your station. A network for stupid people.
Love this show!
Crappy timing by ABC, with the season finale on CTV already this Sunday. I would’ve have watched it on CTV if I knew ABC was canning it. We don’t get CTV in HD here.
I need my Kristin Lehman fix!