'Under the Dome' CBS
The summer drama, which set ratings highs in 2013, has succumbed to gravity during its latest run.
CBS will not be spending another summer Under the Dome. The serial adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name has been canceled after three seasons.
The network announced the series would conclude with its Sept. 10 finale, promising closure to the storyline about the mysterious dome that's kept the occupants of a small Maine town separated from the rest of the world.
Under the Dome premiered to lofty live and DVR ratings records in 2013. Its inaugural 3.3 rating among adults 18-49 and and 13.5 million viewers proved to all of the broadcast networks that summer could be a launch pad for big scripted drama. And the financials — Under the Dome is funded largely by CBS' streaming pact with Amazon Prime — paved the way for similar roll-outs. CBS summer dramas Extant and Zoo are among those that have followed, with respective deals at Amazon and Netflix.
But the traditional measure of success has been harder on Dome. Even with a season-to-date 80 percent lift from DVR, it's only averaging a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49. It still ranked as broadcast's No. 2 scripted series of the summer, behind Fox's Wayward Pines, but it's a far cry from its previous audience.
"Two years ago, Under the Dome broke new ground in the summer and became an instant hit on CBS, as well as with viewers around the world," said CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler. "Dome’s event storytelling and multi-platform business model paved the way for more original summer programming with the successful rollouts of Extant and Zoo. We’re excited to present the final chapter in Chester’s Mill as the story comes full circle, with the Dome coming down as dramatically as it went up."
Produced by Amblin Television and CBS Television Studios, Under the Dome prompted a summer sea change at CBS. The network has followed each off-season since its premiere with a new scripted drama where it previously aired only repeats or reality TV. In 2016, it will add Washington, D.C.-set horror comedy BrainDead from The Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King.
Executive producer Neal Baer had been optimistic about the series' prospects earlier in the summer when speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, also shrugging the criticism that had been levied against the show. "I'd like to keep it going," said Baer. "Our intentions are to tell a great story every summer for as long as the audience wants to watch the citizens of Chester's Mill."
All three seasons will continue to stream on Amazon Prime.
CBS released the following promo, touting the series' end, on Monday.
