11 Highest-Rated Canceled Shows of 2025
As we get amped about the shows the broadcast networks are introducing this upfront season, we’re also mourning the ones they’re taking off air, especially now that NBC and CBS have canceled sizable swaths of their programming lineups.
For NBC, the cancellation of three dramas and two comedies comes as the network prepares devote its Tuesday nights this fall and both Tuesday and Sunday nights next midseason to NBA games.
“We had a lot of shows that we had to pass on in order to put our schedule together,” Jeff Bader, the president of program planning strategy for NBCUniversal Entertainment, told reporters on Saturday, per Deadline. “NBA is a huge priority for us, that is our biggest new show in the fall.”
CBS, meanwhile, is shedding five dramas and one comedy. “It’s not easy to end shows, and we had a lot of options this year,” CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach told reporters earlier this month, as Deadline reported. “The schedule is really full, and so we always have to look at all of our shows, look at the aggregate information, the creative of where they are in their life cycle, what the finances look like, what the ratings are, and then we make those tough decisions.”
Of the 2024–2025 broadcast shows canceled so far, the ones below had the highest ratings in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic with their most recent episodes, with total-viewer stats breaking ties. (Note: The Canadian medical drama Transplant isn’t included in the ranking, since its final season premieres on NBC on May 22.)
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GoldCorn
is basketball really so important that NBC had to cancel so many shows to accommodate the games? only 1 thing left on NBC for me to watch anymore - nothing left on CBS - and 2 shows left on ABC. streaming is now the way to go for me - cancelled Dish and went to Roku - don't have to deal with the networks cancelling shows or killing my favorite characters - I'll just go to streaming and watch the shows I grew up with
RedPlane
Worst decision started with Blue Bloods great show & cast & Friday night must watch. Couldn't stop then came great shows such as Equalizer, 911, 911 Lone Star, FBI Most Wanted, The Irrational, SWAT, & more. So 18-49yr age group (that do other things at night) - maybe broaden you age group to 50-80yrs included. We're the ones watching TV & paying the cable/streaming bills. They all also educated you on how to watch out & protect yourself and what can happen on any given day anywhere. Sports are important to some people but most only follow one or two sports & ESPN/TNT/ABC/NBC/FOX/CBS/NFL Networks have plenty of coverage - NBA poor excuse. The Fall Line ups are totally unimpressionable. Don't start anymore reality shows there's already too many.
OrangeLamp
Sports do not need to be on Network TV There are cable channenls to watch them on! I get tired of missing half of Tracker every sunday!
Elena Rebollar
Agreed. CBS needs to stop showing sports that run into the Sunday prime time lineup! I don't always watch my favorites live, and the overlap of sports into the prime time shows makes it impossible to DVR my favorite Sunday night shows.
D. Shanahan
FOX does the same thing
PurplePizza
I agree with you. They need to get rid of the people who decided to cancel Blue Blood, both FBI's shows, Swat, and the Equalizer.
RedCupcake
Sports are literally the only thing traditional television has left to hold onto. Tracker deserves more respect from the network because it is their top show, but it pulls sub 10 million in live broadcast. Two decades ago a show pulling those numbers on network tv would be in danger of cancellation.
GreenPretzel
Why would they care since they are all active with streaming media now-a-days, making a bundle on subscription prices. But... I hunger for something other than reruns, and NBA evening viewing is not the escapism that most of the viewing public wants. My opinion .... I think they are making a big mistake....
CyanPopcorn
I think they will lose a lot of viewers. The people that watch NBA are not going to be people that their sponsors play to.Good luck with the losers.
OliveRadio
Detest sports of any kind and as far as I am concerned will be turning off the TV except for the news in the morning and then in the evening. Will be watching my favorite DVDS, listening to music or reading books. I am cancelling network TV.
D. Shanahan
I love sports, but I don't want to watch games every single night.
GoldPizza
Ditto!
RedCupcake
So Blue Bloods was the highest rated cancelled show? It should have stayed on. At least one more full season. Will miss it!!!
GreenHat
Absolute stupidity they’ve lost me as a viewer now on a Tuesday night and they’ve lost me as a viewer on a Sunday night. There will be no one in my house. That’s really interested in basketball and therefore, and they’ve taken away three of my favorite shows which have such high ratings and I just think that’s so stupid. I hope it makes you feel good to know you leave a whole bunch of people feeling really down about it.
CyanCoathanger
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Olive8Ball
CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach is a fool for canceling these very popular shows. I will only watch FBI and NCIS on CBS and stream Netflix the rest of the time. I've been boycotting CBS Friday nights due to the cancellation of Blue Bloods. I'm sure CBS could care less but it makes me feel better. Thanks, Amy!!
OrangeStrawberry
I watched 7 of those shows that were cancelled. This really sucks! I'm trying to understand why cancel them, and air new shows that might not do well. At least these have a following
OrangeController
Newsflash NBC......We Don't Care about Sports!! (Unless, it's the playoffs or the Olympics!!)
GoldBug
Loved & watched all of them except #s 3,9,10. Will have ti change the channels!
GreenBulb
With the cancellation of on CBS of Blue Bloods that was to me the biggest the dumbest thing and that work could do therefore probably will never watch anything done by CBS it was to me clear out right stupid regarding the other shows I don't watch too much of them some of the comedy stuff like Papa's house is clearly annoying show not worth keeping on TV
CyanController
Cancelling FBI International is just stupid! Such an excellent cast and show!
RedRocket
ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox are canceling great shows for what? Show that no one really wants to watch. They are just pushing people to watch streaming channels.
RedQuill
My Biggest Outrage, is the loss of The EQUALIZER! wthf & also FOUND!! not happy about losing Lopez&Lopez either (better than Happy Place)! And also, i was watching NIGHT COURT too! The CONNERS should have gotten another year also (iyam)! I also still watched 911/Lonestar. I don't plan on replacing those hours either; what's the point? Soon as i get really invested in them, they are cancelled already?!!!
PurpleDucky
Is basketball really so important that NBC had to cancel so many shows to accommodate the games, seriously? -streaming is now the way of the future, but I can rebel. - Don't need to deal with the networks. I do more nostalgic watching now anyway.
OrangeBucket
All my favorite shows have been cancelled. There is nothing left to watch on the network. Poor choices by the execs.
BlueProcessor
So ridiculous to cancel great shows.
Anonymous
Why was ESPN created? To watch sports. So put sports on ESPN. Leave the other channels for real entertainment. Not Sports. If you want to watch sports go to ESPN!
BlueFan
What’s the point of Fox announcing new shows, when every 2 minutes they are cancelling them. Due to cost cutting. Why not cut the garbage instead of constantly cancelling the best shows. For starters, there’s easily scope for a series 6 of The Equaliser.
OlivePaw
I only watched Bluebloods.. didn’t like any of the others 🤷🏻♀️