FOX and Netflix’s reasons behind Lucifer decisions show something needs to change

FOX has finally spoke out about why it decided to cancel Lucifer. The irony is the reasons are the exact opposite of why Netflix chose to save the show. These reasons show that something needs to change among the networks.

Primetime networks have to look at live and delayed viewer ratings. It didn’t matter about the social media campaign. Lucifer didn’t have the ratings to justify FOX keeping the show going. However, the irony is that the viewer ratings is exactly why Netflix chose to save the show. And it’s the reasons between the two companies that shows why something needs to change in the way cancellations and renewals are decided.

It’s hard for FOX and other primetime networks. They rely on the U.S. viewer ratings. Lucifer wasn’t getting enough live and delayed viewers from the States to make the show worthwhile, according to Comicbook.com. It cost too much to make and the ratings were too low for advertisers to justify rates.

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Netflix, on the other hand, said that the viewing figures were good and justified keeping the show going. The difference is that these viewers game from outside of the United States. Netflix licensed the rights to show Lucifer in some countries. In those countries, the ratings showed that people want this show. The social media campaign was the icing on the cake.

I’ve believed the way cancellation and renewal decisions are made have been out of date for some time. This issue with Lucifer just confirms that. What I don’t know is how things can change. If people in the country the networks air aren’t going to watch the show live or through the official channels in the week after, then it’s going to lead to more cancellations. The advertisers won’t pay out and the networks will fail.

Technology has made it possible for more shows to go global. Streaming services have helped people learn about new shows, especially genre shows, which then leads to an international audience. Primetime networks and advertisers haven’t caught up to that yet.

The only way around this that I can see is to open up the streaming to worldwide. Allow fans in Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, France, and more to access FOX online or The CW app or other network’s streaming options. Give them the chance to view the shows through the official primetime channels and make it clear that there’s a genuine need. This could even open up to worldwide advertisers for the networks to make sure the commercials are based on location.

Or open it up to paid subscription bases. With so many networks now owned by the same production heads (Disney has FOX, NBC has SYFY and the USA Network, CBS has The CW for example) it would be possible for many networks to join together in one subscription platform for international viewers (and even national). That would cut the need for advertisers.

It wouldn’t be easy at first, but it’s certainly not impossible. People would need encouragement to pay for content but it would be without commercials. I’d consider that.

What do you think about the reason why FOX canceled Lucifer? Do you see the irony in why Netflix saved it? What can the networks do moving forward? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Lucifer Season 4 will be on Netflix sometime in 2019.