Why no new shows have been axed yet

Despite good reviews, ‘The Grinder’ has posted low ratings this fall.

Two weeks ago, “The Grinder” averaged a 0.9 adults 18-49 rating.

A few years ago that rating would have resulted in immediate cancellation. Instead, it earned the program a full-season pickup.

We’re seven weeks into the fall season, and not one new broadcast program has been canceled. By this time last year six shows had been axed.

Several low-rated programs, including “Grinder” and “Grandfathered,” have received full-season pickups.

More, such as “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris” and “Scream Queens,” have remained on the air without consequence.

A handful of the lowest-rated programs, like “Blood & Oil” and “Minority Report,” have had their season orders reduced, but a week into the November sweeps none has been yanked.

There are several reasons for the networks’ patience, and the main one is the continuing change in viewership patterns.

There’s more time-shifting, which means the networks need to wait a few weeks to see DVR ratings to get a full picture of a program’s performance.

“Overall, the networks have been careful about considering overall viewing and not reacting to one set of measurement to cut, cut, cut,” one buyer says.

Fox, for instance, compiled data on how its new shows fared in their first 30 days of viewing across TV, video on demand, online and DVRs. “Queens’” audience more than doubled from its TV premiere, to 9.2 million total viewers, a respectable tally.

But time-shifting isn’t the only reason the networks have been slow to replace struggling new programs.

Buyers say most of the networks don’t have strong contenders waiting to come off the bench. They don’t see an “Empire,” the hit Fox show, among the midseason shows that could slide in as a replacement. So the networks may be better off just letting their new shows play out in the hopes they build up some buzz.

There’s also the issue of expense.

Networks lose money they’ve invested in producing and marketing new shows when they close down early and don’t air all the episodes they’ve shot.

At a time when broadcast advertising is facing a heavy challenge from digital, cost does become an even bigger factor in decision-making.

Tags: canceled shows, new shows, new shows canceled, time shifting