If ABC cancels The River (which they almost surely will), it seems that the TV series might still have a chance for a second season.
Netflix and ABC Studios (which co-produces The River) have had early discussions about possibly producing some TV shows for Netflix and their streaming service. The River apparently came up as a contender as part of those discussions.
Once known only for their DVD rental by mail services, Netflix has been offering streaming services for more than five years and TV shows have become very popular with subscribers. We often hear from readers who’ve only recently discovered serial TV series like The Event, FlashForward and The Gates; shows that were broadcast and cancelled more than a year ago.
Netflix has made a deal to produce a fourth season of cult-favorite Arrested Development some six years after it was cancelled by FOX. The company has recently discussed the possibility of producing a second season of another canned FOX show, Terra Nova.
While The River has amassed a devoted following, the ratings for the ABC series have been poor almost from the start. It premiered on ABC with a mediocre 2.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 8.35 million total viewers. Those numbers quickly dwindled downward and the season (likely seres) finale came in at a 1.4 in the demo with 3.99 million.
Deadline sites that The River picks up a healthy percentage of viewers from DVR viewing but that’s essentially true of any show. If a show has relatively low viewership, picking up 36% (3.99 million to 5.43 million) still doesn’t amount to much by network standards.
Could that size of an audience be enough for Netflix to justify the cost of producing a second season of The River? We’ll have to wait and see but at least there’s a bit more hope for fans than there was before.
What do you think? Is there a realistic chance that Netflix or someone else will save The River? Is it worth being saved?
Image courtesy ABC.
Where is the second season? I really got into this show. One of the best shows ive seen in a long time really kept you on the edge of your seat. I would sincerly be disapointed if this show never aired again!
The river was the best TV show ive seen in a while. Its better than all of those drama TV shows that show heart break and crap, the people want to be scared! The paranormality, the magic, the wierdness of the Boiúna and its powers, the mistrust and betrayal aboard the magus, we want all of these things. it brings action and thrill into our boring lives. It ensnares us with the feeling of the unknown. Please Netflix, dont lose your chance at making much more money than you already are. The River will bring profits, i promise. My money… Read more »
This is a real good show and would love to see a second season.
I’m on episode 4 right now and I’m so angry that I only have 4 more to watch. Why is it that smart TV shows always get cancelled? It’s never about what people may be interested in, or giving a struggling show a little more time, but it’s always the ratings, advertising, money, etc. I’m switching the flip and getting rid of mainstream television…never anything worth watching on. I have Hulu / Netflix and I’ll choose what I want to watch. I’m hoping Netflix will pick up a 2nd season of The River as they have Arrested Development.
WTF RIVER WAS AWESOME
please save the show and continue it with a second season. it’s a very great show and i really enjoy watching it. one of the best shows i ever watched. me and my family enjoy it.
Keep it going…..please
Please do not cancel the show. I’m living in Jakarta and I get the DVDs here. Love love the show. Something very different from other tv serials.
Just read this: http://seriable.com/the-river-dead-in-the-water-at-netflix/
Seems it won’t be coming back.
What a show! I just got done watching it and all I can think is that it has been a very very long time since I watched a show that has such a well done plot. It had paranormal happenings that were in actuality believable and brought sense of thrill and fear. Unlike most shows where everyones runs off screaming at any bumps in the night, these characters went at it head on! I absolutely adore this show and I really hope it does get the chance to have a second season. If netflix can save so many great shows…… Read more »
They should definetly bring The River back, it’s one of the best scary shows i have seen in a while. I would sign up for Nextflix again if they bring it back.
please bring the river back. it was a horror movie broken into 1 hour blocks that were filled with suspense, excitement, deceit, mystery and more. it brings somethign different to television viewers who want something outside of law, comedy, “reality”, and other shows that should probably not be aired. The river was my weekly horror movie and I want it back
I would re-subscribe to Netflix if they picked up The River… I’m sort of shocked at the really poor ratings; it was a decent new show. Maybe America can only tolerate “average joes” who are drunk or have psychological issues on reality shows. Pretty weak.
It seems like every time a good program comes on it gets cancled.
First it was the Event and now I here that Terra Nova has been cancled along with The River. I am so sick of these cheap reality programs that eny one could come up with. I can only hope that some network will have enough sense to at least give these program,s another chance.
A second season of The River would be wonderful. What other show can you watch that totally blows your mind with something different around every corner. Everyone I know was astounded that it was cancelled. It was a great show.
Finally ….a real show comes along and most Americans have been too brainwashed by all the years of network trash TV to watch something stimulating to the mind…now there it goes !
Pick this up Netflix, you’ll make money
The River was the best show I’ve seen in years. I couldn’t wait until the next episode and my children loved it too. We all hope to see a second season and were soo disappointed and shocked to hear it was cancelled. It really did keep you on the edge of your seat and kept you curious. Every minute of the hour it was on was used brilliantly. Its a shame its not being picked up for a second season. I don’t understand how it could fail. Sad Face…