Even Martha would agree that this latest news isn’t “a good thing.” The Martha Stewart Show has been cancelled after seven seasons on the air.
Hallmark Channel has opted not to renew the daytime show due to high production costs and low ratings. Martha averages only about 225,000 viewers.
On the positive side, The Martha Stewart Show will remain in production and new episodes will continue through April. Stewart and her staff are planning a lavish series finale which will air in May. Reruns will continue to air for the remainder of the season, through the summer months.
Distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television, The Martha Stewart Show debuted in first-run syndication on September 11, 2005. The series moved to Hallmark in the fall of 2010 as part of an overall deal that included a commitment from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) to produce original new series and specials to compliment Martha and the rest of the cable channel’s lineup.
Hallmark initially scheduled an eight-hour block of Stewart programming but the ratings were poor so it was quickly scaled back to five hours.
The cancellation news was first reported by the NY Post. In response, MSLO’s Lisa Gersh told employees via email that the company will continue to do business with Hallmark, “we are currently exploring programming concepts for Martha Stewart and other MSLO brands beyond this fall.”
At December’s UBS investor conference, Gersh said, “Our expensive studio lease is expiring next year, and we will either bring television in-house or find lower cost space, which will significantly reduce our TV operating margins.”
The fate of Hallmark’s other MSLO-produced shows is still up in the air — including Emeril’s Table, hosted by Emeril Lagasse.
What do you think? Are you sorry that Stewart’s show has been cancelled? Did you follow it to Hallmark?
Not a good thing for Martha.
Disappointed as to the cancellation of Martha Stewart’s Program. It seems that you get a decent program and then you have to yank it off-leaving more old time reruns on every day of the week. Over and over and no room for an up to date show even for only an hour a day.
I too am thoroughly disappointed with the Hallmark Channel canceling Martha Stewart’s show. Martha’s show is one of the few food shows left that actually has new shows. I have learned a lot from Martha. Living in a very rural area, it is a fair distance for cooking classes.
Martha’s show has been an inspiration for me to push out of the comfort zone.
Very sad to hear Martha is cancelled. I have enjoyed her for many years and liked the Hallmark block. I have learned many things from Martha’s shows and books as well as Lucinda Scala-Quin and Emeril. Martha you will be missed:(
I think Hallmark will be losing my business if this is true. grrrr
I am very disappointed to see Martha Stewart go. I am sure she will resurface soon somewhere else but I will miss her show in the meantime. I think moving networks and not having an HD option at first was an issue.
I had so hoped to come to NYC one day and see a live taping of her show.
Please keep me informed of her whereabouts and of any new shows she will have.
Good Luck to Martha in any new ventures. I will miss your show very much!!!!!
Christine Jensen
I am heart broken and lost….I have Martha Stewart lot of respect and admiration for Martha…She has so very much to offer all that love her and her beautiful ideas….I am hoping that she plans something for the fall lineup on another tv station….I would have loved to attend one of her shows just to enjoy the pleasure of her company….Please Martha, if you read these comments, continue providing us with your capability to make magic out of a otherwise dull and drab life…..Patricia DiPascal
I am extremely unhappy about Martha’s show being cancelled. I have followed her from the beginning and to hallmark. I believe she reaches out to all ages covering all aspects of living. I will be anxiously waiting to see where she goes and I will be there!! My only regret is I never got to come to the show. Carol Wagner
I certainly hope the show is NOT cancelled. With so many really bad television shows out there, The Martha Stewart Show stands out as being a quality program. It is purposeful and entertaining as well. I would definitely miss it…..and it sort of makes me angry if Hallmark cancels it.
I am disappointed that the show was cancelled. I actually learned how to cook from watching her shows. I have even be enjoyed her business tips. I record the shows and enjoy watching them on the weekend. I am truly hurt this show will not be renewed!
I am so disappointed – I watch her show every morning in the winter – I would be lost without it especially since there is nothing else on TV worth watching – just junk!! I have learned so much on her show – cooking, gardening, crafting – I will miss it !!
The Huffington Post confirmed the cancellation. Think they’re liars also?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/martha-stewart-show-canceled_n_1183897.html
admin – thanks for the crazy retort. MSLO’s Lisa Gersh never confirmed that the show is ending. In your alternate universe, that’s what you hallucinate, but that comports not with the truth. Hallmark, Martha Stewart, and MSLO have not confirmed that the show is ending. It’s time for media collusion to cease on the vibrant, Emmy Award-winning Martha Show, which will return with new episodes on Hallmark in September 2012.
The Martha Stewart Show has not been cancelled by Hallmark, a media hoax started by the New York Post. Collusion among the propagandist media, including USA Today and TV Series Finale, is perpetuating this hoax. Martha and the Martha Stewart Show are transforming Hallmark from a channel of reruns with Emmy Award-winning lifestyle programming. Ratings numbers have no relevance for the Martha Show; they don’t count all the viewers watching the show. Hallmark’s rerun ratings have little value for advertisers. The Martha Show will go on summer hiatus in May, like previous seasons, airing repeats and no new episodes until… Read more »
gchu » Thanks for the crazy accusation. Why did MSLO’s Lisa Gersh confirm that the show is ending?
I’m sorry to see her show fold. No matter how you feel about Martha, she is brilliant in the domestic arts dept.I love her cooking demonstrations and her decorating ideas. I’m sure another channel will scoop her up because, despite poor ratings numbers, she still has a huge fanbase.
I’m very disappointed that the Martha Stewart Show was canceled. I tape it during the day and look forward to watching it in the evening. I have learned so much from her. What a classy lady.