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?
I would definitely watch “Motive” on another channel that I receive. Very disappointed that show is not shown in USA
Yes, I would absolutely watch it on a different channel, I like this show a lot, every Tuesday night I was parked in front of the TV, and I want to watch the first two seasons again too, you can’t even get them on Netflix, Why? Somebody, please, pick this show up, it was the only show I liked in the summer, ABC, you’re killing me
I really enjoyed the show and would watch it on any network. I am disappointed that ABC did not pick it up for a third season.
No!!!!!! Not another good show cancelled! I’ve looked forward to the return of this show since last summer. I would be thrilled to see it come back on another network, or on Netflix. I don’t watch much regular network programming anymore and decisions like these will help make me give up cable entirely..
I thought it was a great show
I loved Motive, one of the best shows I’ve watched!!! I only watch Rookie Blue, Castle, and Last Man Standing on ABC. They keep on cancelling all the good shows. So once again I’m disappointed with ABC!!!
Thought it was well written and had good drama effect. It was easy to feel the palpitations from the fear of the murderer as he/she was close to being caught. Really sad to see it go and will look forward to another network picking it up.
I really loved the show Motive….took the favorite type of show of numerous networks, but, with a twist became something completely new and original. I truly hope that another network will pick it up…especially since its just been renewed for a 4th season in Canada! Great show…bring it back please!
Loved Motive and have been waiting for it this summer… wouldn’t mind seeing it on any other channel!
I enjoyed Motive. It was one of my favorite summer replacement shows. Hopefully another cable network willpickit up.
I loved Motive. ABC canceling Longmire and Motive this summer means I am watching NOTHING on tv until Castle comes back in the fall. Just catching up on my netflix movies now. It’s really too bad since those were quality programing and what’s left is a bunch of lackluster smut and comedy that is truly insulting.
Really hated to see ABC drop Motive from their summer line up. Always loved how the writers put the murders and victims together. Also enjoyed see Louis Ferreira again, along with other canadian actors and actress that have come from shows like Stargate and Primeval: New World.
I would definitely watch it on another network like Ion, where I found and love Flashpoint, with Hugh Dillion who did Druham County with Louis. I always think cable channels have better shows on than the big networks.
I definitely won’t be watching ABC with their crappy reality TV.
I love Motive and ABC always has a habit of pulling shows that are smarter and better than the standard fair. I’m glad it got a 4th season. I just wish they would do 20+ episode seasons.
Really liked the show, hope it appears in the US!
This was a smart program; I’ll miss it. By all means let’s have more tabloid news, comic book heroes, and lots of mindless sex and gratuitous violence – that should bring the ratings up. Anything that requires – oh mercy me – the brain to engage is rubbish, surely.
Sorry to hear that ABC pulled the plug airing this show. ABC is known for dropping shows I like. So this does not shock me. I can keep my fingers crossed that another channel picks up Motive so I can see season 3 and the upcoming season 4 since it was already renewed for a 4th season.