Once again, SWAT finds itself on the bubble but are ratings the only obstacle for another renewal?
You have to give credit to SWAT. It’s rare a show survives being canceled, let alone doing it twice. Somehow, the CBS procedural drama has managed that epic feat.
The first time was back in the spring of 2023 when CBS suddenly announced the show’s cancellation after six seasons. It was a bad move for fans as the show was still highly rated and the producers hadn’t crafted a finale. The backlash was so huge that CBS had to backtrack and renew the show for a 13 episode seventh and final season.
That season was delayed until early 2024 due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes. The series sure seemed set to end it, bringing the stories of several characters to an end. So it was quite a surprise when in April 2024, CBS suddenly renewed the show for an eighth season which premiered this past fall.
So as the time for renewals approaches, the question is if SWAT can once more beat the odds and gain a ninth season. But there are obstacles in its way and it doesn’t have to do with just the ratings.
Why SWAT Season 9 is a big risk now
A Deadline article on CBS and its various “bubble shows” details how SWAT faces a few issues with a renewal. The obvious is the ratings as it ranks lowest in ratings compared to other “bubble” shows such as the FBI spinoffs or The Equalizer. It does have going for it the fact that it’s the anchor for CBS’s Friday night programs, slipping into the 10/9c spot once held by Blue Bloods.
There are the classic issues of the salary for the cast and the show’s budget for their action scenes. If there is a renewal, the series might go for a cost-cutting measure of some actors absent for some episodes.
The thing is, it’s not about just ratings any more. CBS is preparing for its parent company Paramount Global to be acquired by Skydance which may close in March or April. This is going to shift up management a lot and thus, CBS may be waiting until the deal is closed to make the final decisions on shows.
That may mean getting rid of some older series such as SWAT and paving the way for fresher series. On the flip side, the show is a success in syndication and on Netflix and that added revenue can be a factor for CBS deciding to keep it.
So, once again fans of SWAT can only wait and hope that the drama bucks the odds yet again for a renewal. And as any SWAT fan knows, beating the odds is just what Team One specializes in.
SWAT airs Fridays at 10/c on CBS.