Why did The CW pull the plug on 'Barons' mid-season? Network makes another shocking cancellation
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The CW adds another show to its growing list of cancellations. Yes, you heard that right! 'Barons' has been canceled much to viewers' disappointment. The network has recently been on a 'killing spree', shutting down shows regardless of their popularity and soon after they have begun airing.
'Barons' only got the chance to have half of its scheduled episodes air on the channel. The show previously aired in Australia before making a move to the network. In this year itself, The CW has canceled multiple shows including 'Walker Independence', 'The Winchesters' and to many fans' dismay, 'Gotham Nights'. All these shows were similarly canceled after one season each.
What was 'Barons' about?
An unusual choice by an American network like The CW, 'Barons' is an Australian surfing drama set in the 70s. Written and produced by Michael Lawrence, John Molloy, and Liz Doran, the show follows the professional and personal rivalry between two surfing groups. Close friends become rivals as competition heats up to establish a business empire.
The plot is supposed to be based on the rivalry between the surf-wear brands Billabong and Quiksilver. The show stars Sean Keenan, Ben O’Toole, Jillian Nguyen, and Hunter Page-Lochard.
Why did The CW cancel 'Barons'?
The CW has not necessarily been considering viewership but rather its changing structure and vision for the network. 'Barons' had too low of a viewership to even consider continuing to air it. The CW had patiently waited for the numbers to increase but when they only dipped further, it was clear that it was not reaching the channel's audience.
The first episode was able to reach around 179K which was followed up by a major dip to 124K and then a slight rise to 157K, as per TV Line. It was clearly not well received in America, despite The CW's hopes for a dark horse contender in its line up that would attract a niche audience. The show has a total of eight episodes out of which only four were aired before the network pulled the plug. All eight episodes of 'Barons' will however continue to be available to watch on The CW's app and the official website.
