“Nashville” consistently struggles from a live+same-day ratings standpoint, but its future at ABC is evidently not in jeopardy.
Citing the show’s passionate fanbase and strong lifts from time-shifted viewing, ABC president Paul Lee told critics that his network does not intend to cancel the show at the end of its ongoing fourth season.
“We don’t have any plans to finish ‘Nashville’,” said Paul Lee during a discussion at the winter Television Critics Association press tour. “We have an incredibly passionate audience. The ‘Nashville’ audience grows by a large amount in our delay viewings. No, at this point, no plans for ‘Nashville’ other than to keep it going.”
While nothing is definitive until the network announces its 2016-17 schedule this spring (and, frankly, until a fifth season actually airs), the comments provide a welcome dose of optimism regarding the series.
“Nashville” has never fared especially well in the live+same-day ratings, but it has faced particular difficulty this year. Multiple episodes have dropped below the 1.0 mark in the adults 18-49 demographic, and all but two episodes drew fewer viewers than the least-watched episode of the previous four seasons.
The show’s saving grace has always been its combination of DVR viewership, fan support, and brand value. Based on Paul Lee’s comments, it appears ABC still values those factors.
