NBC has made the decision to end the rebooted version of Magnum P.I. after its upcoming fifth season. The show, which originally aired in the 1980s and starred Tom Selleck, was saved from cancellation by NBC after being dropped by CBS due to high production costs and licensing fees. While it was performing well in terms of ratings, CBS made the difficult choice to cancel the series. NBC then stepped in and picked up the show for 20 episodes, with the possibility of extending it further. However, it has now been confirmed that the fifth season will be the last.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Magnum P.I. season 5's remaining ten episodes will receive significant promotion from NBC as they will mark the final chapter of the reboot. These episodes are expected to premiere in 2024, depending on the duration of the ongoing writers' strike. The decision to end the show reportedly stems from various factors.
Why NBC Has Decided To End Magnum P.I.
The announcement of the future of Magnum P.I. is imminent as the cast's contracts are set to expire on June 30. NBC's Universal TV, in collaboration with CBS Studios, has been faced with the decision to either extend the contracts or cancel the series altogether. After considering the options of renewing for season 6, extending the cast's deals, or ending the reboot, NBC has decided on the latter. The network does not want to invest in extending the contracts due to the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing writers' strike and a potential actors' strike, which could further delay production.
While Magnum P.I. season 5 has performed well for NBC, there has been a slight decline in viewership compared to its time on CBS. When factoring in delayed and non-live viewing, the reboot has averaged around 5 million viewers. This represents a 30 percent decrease in total viewership and a 43 percent drop in the highly sought-after 18-49 age demographic. It's worth noting that season 5 has been airing on Sundays after reruns, which may have influenced its performance.
An NBC executive recently discussed the variance in ratings and expressed a positive outlook for the show Magnum P.I. However, the future of the show's streaming rights now appears uncertain. While the reboot's more recent episodes can be found on NBCUniversal's Peacock, the older seasons are available on Paramount+, CBS's streaming platform. The fact that viewers passionately rallied for the show when it was initially cancelled demonstrates the strong connection the series has with its audience.
