Cancellation Watch Breaking News: Stitchers Renewed for a Third Season

Coming in under the radar yesterday (even the Network Executioner missed it), was the announcement that Freeform’s sci fi procedural Stitchers will be returning for a third season. That renewal was definitely not a sure thing despite claims by Deadline Hollywood that it is “strong ratings performer for the network” (TV by the Numbers actually gives a much better assessment of the show’s performance). It might be Freeform’s Number 2 performing new series for the past two seasons (behind Shadowhunters), but that only tells you how low that network’s ratings have been. Stitchers only managed a 0.15 ratings average based on the overnights for the 18-49 demographic for its second season, and that was down notably from its first year average of a 0.35 score. It has not seen too much in the way of delayed viewing gains either, but the show has demonstrated “stickiness” in the social networks which means that it appeals to Freeform’s younger-skewing audience. It is also likely that the network has international partnerships and/or financing keeping it afloat. The show does have a dedicated core of fans, and they will definitely be happy to hear that it is coming back for a third season. And at this point, it is reasonable to expect the show to go for the four to five season run we typically see from low to moderate rated cable shows that have lasted this long.  Stitchers Season 3 likely have its bow at some point in Spring of 2017.

There are still a few more Spring and Summer shows that we are waiting to here word on including Braindead (Likely Cancellation), Wayward Pines (On the Bubble), and Slasher (Renewal Possible). Be sure to stay tuned to this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking announcements on these and other genre shows.