Network television is in a difficult position, with the streaming wars continuing to win in the ratings, and younger audiences no longer sitting down and engaging with traditional TV shows as they once did. A changing audience and shifting methods of distribution mean network TV has to continue adapting. That means that they are commissioning countless new shows that will hopefully drive up those viewing figures, but, unfortunately, also means that they will be canceling those that are not performing well. Strangely enough, some of those decisions don’t make sense, though, with major networks becoming inconsistent in their contrasting cancellations and renewals. Recent news concerning the popular procedural show SWAT has been especially challenging to understand.
SWAT initially debuted in 2017 and has run for eight seasons. Over those years, the show has built a firm following, thanks to its fantastic cast, chemistry, and consistently quality writing. In total, there have been 163 episodes, indicating the strength of the brand for its network, CBS, which has greatly profited from its prosperity. But, as is always the case, SWAT was under constant review, and recent announcements have indicated CBS is not afraid to make massive changes where needed. Yet, this is another instance of a major decision being made without a lot of logic behind its calculation.
CBS Canceled SWAT for a Third Time
The Long-Running Series Was Brought To A Close
The big news is that CBS canceled SWAT, the long-running procedural show inspired by an LAPD team of hard-working and talented first-response officers. The series has been loved because of its hard-hitting narratives and dedication to representing a SWAT team during its highs and lows. While not every season has been unanimously critically acclaimed, that isn’t to say that SWAT hasn’t had audiences behind it. On IMDb, the show sits at a 7.2/10, and while Rotten Tomatoes gives the show a 48% rotten score on its first season, its 69% audience score firmly shows that the piece hit its target audience.
Those are respectable numbers, and a firm sign to CBS that this show, which was inspired by the 1975 original, has real potential long-term. By the seventh season of the show, SWAT was regularly earning around 4 million viewers, with an average ranking of 29 in the ratings. This seemed to suggest that the series had longevity. However, by Season 8, that number dropped again, with an average of around 3 million viewers across successive episodes.
The reason behind SWAT’s cancellation seems to be far more complex than simple ratings and reviews, even if those are still critical marks to measure a show’s success. Reportedly, there were further financial woes, with CBS claiming that the cost of a show that had this level of impact wasn’t enough to warrant its renewal. In fact, the show was originally canceled back in 2023, due to the changing economics of the business. It was later saved, allowing for a few more seasons to run, but SWAT found itself back in the exact same position again in March of this year.
Part of that 2023 issue was also based on a licensing deal between Sony and CBS, with the fees not matching either’s demands. While it was all worked out at the time, it appears that this same issue struck again. Sony’s involvement might be the straw that broke the camel’s back, but there were other choices to be made by CBS that could have saved the show. Despite the cancellation, fans are hoping that a streaming service like Netflix might save SWAT for future seasons, especially since the show can be watched on some of those platforms already.
SWAT Has Been Gifted A Spinoff
SWAT: Exiles Will Continue The Story
Despite the mainline SWAT series getting canned, CBS has decided to move forward with a spinoff show. Titled SWAT: Exiles, the series has already been ordered for 10 episodes by Sony. While it’s not absolutely guaranteed that this will play on CBS, it seems to be the most likely avenue of distribution, especially because Sony has yet to make any streaming deals for the SWAT franchise.
Little is known about SWAT: Exiles, although a logo has been released for the show, teasing its tone. It will naturally be set in the same universe as SWAT, which, incidentally, is also set in the same continuity as The Shield, with a number of cameos taking place over the years. That means that key stars, like Shemar Moore, will be appearing in the spinoff. Moore is set to take on a leading man role once more, after previously serving a critical role in SWAT before the show’s cancellation. Evidently, Moore is too valuable to the franchise to get rid of, regardless of the changing title. In total, the SWAT universe was dead for less than 48 hours before this announcement was made.
SWAT: Exiles appear to be largely using the same crew that worked on SWAT, guaranteeing further job security. It also looks as if executive producer Shawn Ryan will be serving the same role, as he guides this franchise into a slightly different-looking future. Jason Ning is being tapped to serve as the showrunner after previously working on shows like Lucifer. Meanwhile, production is set to start in Los Angeles later in the year, indicating that Sony is keen to start shooting to capitalize on the celebratory atmosphere created by SWAT being so rapidly rescued.
Narratively, SWAT: Exiles has been described as a show that takes place shortly after SWAT, focusing on a high-profile mission that has gone terribly wrong. Hondo is taken back out of retirement to help put together a team of misfits and rejects; an experimental SWAT unit that appears to be a failure before it has started. Hondo will play the role of a bridge builder, ensuring that the team bonds with one another and reaches its full capabilities as worthy protectors for the city. SWAT: Exiles is certainly set to explore very different themes compared to the original series, but only time will tell whether this promising premise shows as much potential as has been described.
These SWAT Decisions Don’t Make Sense
CBS Could Leave Without A Hit On Their Hands
CBS canceling SWAT didn’t make that much sense in the grand scheme of things. While the licensing issue may have played a part, there are still a great many benefits to allowing SWAT to continue. The ratings could build again, there are streaming deals always to be made, and it has proven to be a known name upon which CBS can rely. The network will have to find a replacement for that time slot, and by canceling a show completely, regardless of what follows, there is going to be a loyal fan base that has been completely lost and will not make that transition over to a new format.
CBS has taken a massive risk in canning SWAT, only to then move on to SWAT: Exiles. Just because both shows are in the same franchise, that may not result in similar ratings or success. There have been countless cases where spinoff shows simply haven’t been able to keep the same viewership. CBS may be hoping that the fear of cancellation that has already been experienced may drive fans to watch SWAT: Exiles, to continue to keep this universe and these SWAT characters alive. However, if there is no connection formed with this new premise and ensemble, then the connection to SWAT won’t matter all that much, because the ratings will inevitably drop.
Perhaps the cast chemistry will be the same, and maybe viewers will assume SWAT: Exiles will also be dropped after a single season and thus isn’t worth their time. There are many reasons why the show might not be as popular as the first, and that is why it seems even more daunting to remove a hit from the schedule, only to bank on something that cannot live up to that potential.
What’s more, if Sony doesn’t eventually bring the series to CBS, then CBS could have lost a big brand to a different network or streaming service. Again, this is a less likely possibility, but it is still something to be considered. Add to this the fact that Moore is back on board in the exact same role, and it makes one wonder what the point was at all. Perhaps this was an attempt to halt him from returning to Criminal Minds, where he could make a real impact. Surely, SWAT could have just rebranded itself, perhaps with this premise, but a continuation of the formula. Maybe there was a desire for change, but by altering the title and concept entirely, even with the same cast members, there might be too many shifts happening.
The CBS Schedule Is Changing
Studios Are Keen To Build Procedural Franchises
Even experts can’t predict what might happen here, but it all links back to the desire of studios and distributors alike to build interconnected franchises within the procedural format. ABC has launched new shows like Doctor Odyssey, while the FBI series at CBS is going through a transition of its own. NBC’s Chicago PD appears to be continuing in its current state, while other classic long-running medical dramas, such as Grey’s Anatomy, maintain their industry status.
By commissioning SWAT: Exiles, it allows the franchise to feel bigger than it perhaps is, with another interconnected project. If successful, it indicates that further spinoffs could be scheduled, allowing networks to share the ratings across several slots, while also celebrating its history of procedural dramas. This long-term thinking essentially puts brand growth above short-term promise, but whether SWAT has the power to be stretched across other titles is yet to be seen.
There are many reasons as to why SWAT was canceled, and regardless of the explanation, the fact that SWAT: Exiles has quickly been given the green light does raise some eyebrows. This is a case of network competition in full force, as executives battle among themselves to have the major names on the schedules, while trying to cut costs as much as possible. The predictions that Sony has made could work in its favor, but CBS could also be left in quite a tricky spot. This is a topic that will undoubtedly be covered again, as other major universes are placed into a state of flux. But, what has to be remembered in all of this is the livelihood of the cast and crew, who have been moved from one project to the next, with little explanation. The industry is a brutal place at the best of times, and if there is to be more of this, then unpredictability will reign.
