(Photo by: Sonja Flemming/CBS)
Hondo and his team won’t be back protecting the public for the 2023-24 TV season. CBS has cancelled SWAT, so there won’t be a seventh season. The sixth season currently airs on Friday nights. *Update below.
A police action drama series, the SWAT TV show stars Shemar Moore, Alex Russell, Jay Harrington, Kenny Johnson, David Lim, and Patrick St. Esprit. The crime thriller centers on Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Moore), a Los Angeles native and former Marine who’s been tapped to lead a new “last stop” Special Weapons And Tactics unit (S.W.A.T.). The rest of the team includes seasoned David “Deacon” Kay (Harrington), cocky Jim Street (Russell), expert driver Dominique Luca (Johnson), and informant-connected Victor Tan (Lim). Commander Robert Hicks (St. Esprit), a senior LAPD official with the Special Operations Bureau, is responsible for managing all Metro Division S.W.A.T. units.
The sixth season of SWAT averages a 0.42 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 5.07 million viewers in the live+same day ratings (includes all DVR playback through 3:00 AM). Compared to season five, that’s down by 6% in the demo and up by 18% in viewership. In the live+7 day ratings, the drama gets a nearly 30% boost in viewership.
Despite the rise in viewership. CBS still opted to cancel the series. Sony Television, which produces SWAT, and the network couldn’t agree on a licensing fee. According to Deadline, Sony had not increased the licensing fee for the past few years even though costs had increased and the studio’s profits had dropped.
CBS execs let the exclusivity on the series expire and were eventually willing to increase the licensing fee but dropped the episode order. That would have driven the per-episode cost even higher for Sony, and ultimately an agreement couldn’t be reached.
The word is that finding a new home for SWAT is highly unlikely, given the show’s budget.
“For six seasons, the amazing talents of the SWAT cast led by Shemar Moore, the writers, producers and crew guided by executive producers Shawn Ryan, Andy Dettman, and Aaron Rahsaan Thomas brought us compelling, action packed episodes that also addressed important social issues and contributed to the success of our primetime line-up,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “We sincerely thank them for their incredible work and passion and also thank our dedicated fans who tuned in every week.”
After tonight’s episode, there are two more episodes to air. The de facto series finale, titled “Legacy,” will be released on May 19th.
What do you think? Have you kept up with the SWAT TV show? Are you disappointed this CBS series wasn’t renewed for a seventh season? Are you surprised that it was cancelled?
Update: The CBS series has been revived and renewed for a seventh and final season.
Network television is dying. People are turning to streaming services more and more, and it’s just not cost justified to pay big salaries and licenses anymore. Thus, a lot of series that are pretty high rated are getting the ax. Same thing happened to Magnum PI last year, but fortunately they found a new home (and who knows how long that will last). Maybe the same thing will happen with SWAT. But whatever the reason, to cancel a show like this tells us that the networks and their corporate parents could care less about their viewers.
I am so disappointed to hear that SWAT has been cancelled!!! Really ,,,, this is such a good show. I hope another network picks it up like they did with Magnum PI … another good show that was cancelled but was saved by another network. This show has great actors and just their comradery between the SWAT team. It is so so very sad to end this show. How can you possibly end the show in what 2 mote episodes …. terrible for taking this show off the air!!!!!!!
I was totally surprise by the cancelling of S.W.A.T. It’s one of my favorite television shows. I am disappointed. I was hoping CBS would renew for its seven seasons, but no, they couldn’t decide it.
No, it’s not fair to canceled this show. Its makes me upset. I love to watch S.W.A.T. every Friday night. I’m going missed this show forever.
Been watching since season 1. Let it stay on or some other network please pick it up.
Please reconsider canceling SWAT, I look forward to watching it every week. I watch all the reruns they air on the weekends, I just love this show. It is well written and the acting is superb. Please don’t cancel this excellent show.
It’s numbers are pretty good. It deserved a Final season at least.
I only watch CBS on Friday for the show SWAT. This show SWAT showed all areas of real current events that was actually relevant. I am done once SWAT ENDS… Shameful. The fans are never taken into consideration before making these poor decisions.
Please don’t cancel Swat, it is my favorite show,
This is HORRIBLE. NOT SWAT..This is the only action series I have been watching since it’s beginning. It kept getting better with each Season too. Shemar Moore is a very talented Actor and the rest of the crew was good too.. Made me looked forward to watching this action packed series and GREAT story lines..CBS has a lot of NERVE SMH..I hope another network picks it up because the ratings were GOOD and Viewer’s ship was also… I’m starting a PROTEST…”BRING SWAT BACK NOW”….
It is one of my favorite shows. CBS needs to reconsider the cancellation of SWAT.
CBS has a habit of cancelling good shows like SWAT and leaving the crappy ones!!! Unbelievable that SWAT is cancelled.
Hopefully NBC picks up SWAT like they did with Magnum PI
I agree. I hope they do pick it up.
I’VE BEEN SEEING SWAT SINCE DAY ONE. HOW CAN YOU PRODUCER’S AND WRITER’S DECIDED NOT TO RENEW SWAT? IT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS AND AN EXCELLENT ONE TO. I’M IN TOTAL SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT CBS CHOSE TO REMOVE THE SHOW. LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME PUT SWAT WHERE IT BELONG? AT LEAST BLUE BLOODS CAST MEMBERS AGRÈED TO TAKE A LOSS OF THERE SALARY 25 % OFF TO KEEP THE SHOW RUNNING, THAT’S THE WAY IT WORKS. WHY CAN’T YOU DO THE SAME FOR SWAT? I AM TOTALLY PISSED OFF
I think that’s a bad idea. Everybody loves the show and wants it to be renewed.
I love this show & Shemar as well as the entire cast. Someone pick it up please.