In 1995, the ABC network dropped a bombshell. They were going to cancel My So-Called Life.
It was a low-rated show. But it was wildly beloved.
Fans panicked. They launched one of the first online campaigns in television history to save it. The arguments were logical. Claire Danes had just won a Golden Globe. Writer Winnie Holzman had an Emmy nod. Critics loved it. It was a cultural phenomenon.
It didn’t matter. ABC pulled the plug. Jordan Catalano fans were crushed.
Why? Was it just about the money?
Yes and no.
The Rating Game and Demographics
When networks decide which shows to air, they ask specific questions.
- Will this program attract sufficient Nielsen ratings?
- Does it appeal to advertisers’ target demographics (viewers ages 18 to 49)?
- Is the network owning the show?
Licensing content from a studio is expensive. Producing it in-house is cheaper. Profitability matters.
Then there is production cost. Shows like Grey’s Anatomy have aired for seasons. Salaries go up. Production costs rise.
But ratings aren’t everything.
Scheduling Fits and Network Constraints
A show must fit into the schedule.
In 2013, CBS cancelled two top-rated shows. Vegas and CSI: NY.
Nina Tassler, CBS entertainment president, explained it plainly.
“They just didn’t fit into the schedule and what we were trying to do”
Broadcast networks have limited prime time slots. ABC, CBS, NBC. They have to make harder choices.
Cable networks like A&E or Bravo have more flexibility. They have more slots. The pressure is different.
The Streaming Disruption
Now, broadcast and cable face competition.
Digital outlets like Netflix produce top-quality content. House of Cards. Orange is the New Black.
They don’t rely on advertising revenue.
Viewers cut the cord. They use streaming devices like Roku and Apple TV. The traditional model is under threat. Is it sustainable?
Maybe not.
But viewers have more choices than ever.
My So-Called Life lives on. So do countless other cancelled shows.
They survive on Netflix. YouTube. Digital television alternatives.
The business changes. The fans remember.
