Hulu is joining the latest round of programming purges. The streamer is pulling off a number of additional series from its service as part of Disney’s wider plan to cut streaming costs. The company revealed last month in an SEC filing that it would take $1.5 billion-$1.8 billion in write-downs associated with removing streaming programming from its platforms and expects to remove from more its direct-to-consumer platforms in the third quarter with another $400 million in impairment charges.
Three of ABC’s primetime dramas won’t make it to the 2023-24 schedule. On Friday, the Alphabet network canceled Big Sky, Alaska Daily and The Company You Keep.
In a matter of days, one first-year ABC drama series has surpassed the other for the title of strongest series debut in two years among both the 18-49 demographic and total viewers. Alaska Daily now holds the title, which was previously claimed by The Rookie: Feds. After 35 days of multi-platform viewing, the premiere episode of Alaska Daily has managed a 3.02 rating among the 18-49 demographic, which is a show-stopping 844% increase from its 0.32 live+same day rating.
ABC’s rookie drama Alaska Daily gathered a solid audience over its first week of circulation. Aided by a strong showing on streaming — where the majority of its adult 18-49 audience tuned in — Alaska Daily’s series premiere brought in 8.7 million viewers over its first seven days, according to Nielsen and ABC figures. The Hilary Swank-led drama also drew the biggest audience of the network’s three Thursday shows in Nielsen’s seven-day ratings.
