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 am soooo bummed about the U.S. cancellation of Motive. What a unique concept for a police procedural. Find out up front who killed who and then try to figure out why. Why do original ideas for shows keep getting shot down? Yes, please, someone…anyone… pick up this show for the 3rd (and hopefully) more seasons.
I sincerely miss this show. It was good and different in it’s approach to victim and killer allowing the watcher to “see/learn” how an investigation evolves. Please bring it back or another network pick it up. WE WANT MORE MOTIVE!!
I love this show…Somebody pick it up
I’m disappointed to hear that ABC has cancelled Motive in the U.S. This makes the second show, that I thoroughly enjoy watching, to be cancelled by ABC. Hopefully another network will pick it up. We have so few good shows to watch on regular t.v. especially during the summer months, now we have one less.
I was so very disappointed when Motive was cancelled in the US. I would most definitely watch it again. It is a unique and very interesting crime drama. I will be looking online to see if I can find season 3 and just found that it has been renewed for another season in Canada. I am so thankful that Rookie Blue is still broadcast in the US, it is one of the best TV shows airing right now.
We love Motive and are extremely disappointed that ABC did not renew. We love the premise, the acting, and the great chemistry amongst the characters. We would definitely watch it if ANYONE picked it up.
Love love love Motive.I hope another network picks it up.I’ve been looking for it to come on ABC for a while now
Love Motive. Very disappointed it was cancelled by ABC as I was looking forward to its return this summer. Would definitely watch on another network.
Yes, my wife and I enjoyed watching this show during seasons 1 & 2. Looked forward to new episodes each Thursday during the summer!
We don’t watch a ton of tv either, and it always seems like good programs with good acting and writing, such as Motive get dropped by the networks?!
Hope another network picks it up!
We are in the U.S. and love Motive… very sad to hear that ABC will not air seasons 3 and 4. We would DEFINITELY watch it if it were picked up by another channel, and we would also be willing to pay to see it here in the US. There are many fans who feel similarly… please give us a way to watch it!!
We are in the U.S. and love Motive… very sad to hear that ABC will not air seasons 3 and 4. We would DEFINITELY watch it if it were picked up by another channel, and we would also be willing to pay to see it here in the US. There are a lot of us who feel similarly… please give us a way to watch it!!
Saddened to hear not returning, this intelligent, thoughtful, well-acted show. It was a summer highlight and would watch any season. Please reconsider!
I have seen episodes of Motive season 3 on YouTube
I was bummed to hear that Motive was canceled by ABC in the U.S.
I would definitely watch it if another network picked it up, satellite, cable, or Internet.
It was a great show, I loved it
Please let me know if such a change should occur
Thank you
On of the best shows on today. Well written with great acting. The chemistry among the cast is fantastic. This show needs to be continued and I agree with another writer, more commercializing of it may be helpful. I do not watch a lot of TV but I stumbled on this great show.