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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 SWAThas 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.
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.
CBS hoped to replicate Blue Bloods’ success by featuring another show in its slot after the procedural was canceled, but it only led to failure.
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.
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.