Live PD Nation wasn’t kidding about disavowing the A&E network. Since panicky execs cancelled Live PD, its enormously popular flagship show, the A&E Network has lost 50 percent of its prime-time audience and a ton of profits.
Average viewership in the Jun 11-June 19 range dropped 49 percent year over year. For the advertiser-desired 18-49 and 25-54 demographics, in particular, it was even worse. A&E lost 55 and 53 percent in those two cohorts, the Wall Street Journal reported today.
Prime-time viewership was actually up 4 percent over 2019 prior to the ill-advised cancellation.
The ripple effect is also being felt in the daypart, where ratings dropped 36 percent (42 and 46 percent in among the 18-49 and 25-54 cohort).
The purported reinventing itself A&E tried to spin the massive loss of viewership as temporary.
With Live PD and its spin-offs, A&E raked in about $293 million in advertising revenue in 2019 (and about $96 million in the first quarter of 2020 alone).
Corporate America is still not getting that memo that getting woke is synonymous with going broke.
A&E told the WSJ that “We are continuing to listen to both community leaders and Live PD fans to find a way to serve both moving forward.”
Based on even a cursory review of social media (see below), however, a watered-down, politically correct Live PD 2.0 won’t fly with the fans, assuming they are willing to return to channel at all.
Whether A&E is aware of that is another matter.
I'm a Democrat and generally support BLM, but I'm also a huge supporter of the great police officers like you featured on Live PD (one of my very favorite shows). We need it right now, and canceling it was a definite overreaction.
— Rick After Dark (@RickAfterDark) July 24, 2020
Now you’re really asking for it, A&E. pic.twitter.com/lG4iBpKkUL
— Kelli Kaylor (@kaylor_kelli) July 24, 2020
Good! I hope a network makes a show very similar to this to capitalize on the failure of @AETV . Watching #LivePD made me a fan of the network and other shows, now that LivePD isn't on I don't even know what's on A&E anymore and have no desire to check out their programming.
— TheVegasGuy.com 🎰 (@TheVegasGuyCom) July 24, 2020
Good. Let them loose the other half. I have no desire to watch Hoarders or Storage Wars. #BoycottAETV
— 🇺🇸Chad_the_Fab (@chad_fab) July 24, 2020
I watched Live PD all week and weekend, and reruns too. Went from having A&E on all week long to……never.
— Anne S (@AnneS103) July 24, 2020
Yep..I ceased watching A&E after the dropped Live PD. I "cancelled" them.
— Pro United States (@ProUnitedStates) July 24, 2020
I have not watched anything on A&E since the cancellation of Live PD. I was a fan of the First 48 but will not watch. I feel the cancellation is condemning all police not the few who will be held accountable.
— Jamie (@BostonGal611) July 24, 2020
Good. @AETV deserves more loss. I just retired as a 27 year police Sergeant here in NJ. and I train cops all over the world. Sickening to see the “bow down” when the show was pretty damn transparent. Stay safe over there. We love you all who protect and serve ! 💙🖤
— Jose Medina (@MedinaTeamAPC) July 24, 2020
Of course it has, didn't you think it would. We #BackTheBlue who is going to watch A&E? None of us are! Secondly, If they bring back Live PD in a "new" format, we will not watch if it is not like the old show or is USED to critique the Dept.'s or Officers or to bring Law Suits!
— Loriland12 (@loriland12) July 24, 2020
What does A&E expect? They run these mini marathons of Storage Wars or Hoarders, then if you're really desperate for entertainment, there's infomercials that run all night long. Screw A&E. They dug their own grave.
— Sharon (@Sharonsc4utah) July 24, 2020
Good. They stopped caring about law enforcement. They stabbed you guys in the back in the second they stopped making money off you. I hope they go off the air forever!
— Fiona (@FireflyFairy2) July 24, 2020
Surprise surprise this is what happens on A&E when you drop your number one programming live PD. If I was the A&E president I would l be crapping my pants how do I fix this I know bring back live PD.
— chris (@c_kenney28) July 24, 2020
That’s good, I’m very very liberal and LOVED the show. @AETV is getting what they deserve.
— 🇺🇸 (@hihi1212) July 24, 2020
A&E Dropped @LivePD I Dropped them! #BoycottAETV#BackTheBlue #DefendThePolice
— Patty Krull (@krullpatty77) July 24, 2020
💙💙💙💙💙🇺🇸💙💙💙💙💙
I’m on a full boycott of this channel. Taking away a great show that showed what actually happens and all you guys go through was a mistake. We miss you all !
— Mrs.Batch🇺🇸 (@kimlovesdisney1) July 24, 2020
Good, glad they’re losing viewers. It was wrong to judge live PD because of the horrible task of what happened to George Floyd. I have not tuned into A&E since then, and I never will.
— tom B (@tthomasvbt2) July 24, 2020
There are other shows on the network that I like- First 48, Court Cam, Zombie House Flipping, but I have not watched any of them since the cancellation of LivePD. I am just annoyed with that network right now.
— Angela K. (@hEdwig0wl) July 24, 2020
I haven't watched since they dropped Live PD. I was surprised it was only down 49%. I'd be happier if they said viewership was down by 90%.
— DebC1 (@Dluvzcritters) July 24, 2020
boycott all knee benders and corporate who bow down to them.
no more nike, no more A&E no more CNN , MSNBC, NWT, all progressive one sided
fake News.
I stopped watching pro football when that creep started kneeling. I stopped watching pro baseball when they started politicizing the game. I’m down to only college sports now. I guess all these folks think it’s cool to cut their own throats. So be it. Now it’s cop shows. All these nitwits are a small minority of viewers, but apparently a loudmouth carries the day, not the majority of faithful viewers. It’s just sickening. But, the worst is yet to come in this country. Many of us will have to decide whether to cross the Rubicon.
“Live PD was my favorite show on A&E. Haven’t watched that channel since. I hope they fold.
I wish FOX would pick up the show. We respect law enforcement officers and the tough job they do. Our officers go to work daily never knowing when they will have their final sign off. We need to back the blue and stand behind our officers.
Your killing me were is my live PD , and I can’t believe you buckled under the bull s#$t that’s going on . It’s sad that narrow mined liberals can make you can cel one of the best shows that actually shows how law enforcement really does there job ! One of the best I’ve ever watched . It’s just crazy , what happened to freedom of speech it does work both ways you know just saying .
You know most employers forbid politics while on the clock. Too bad Godell wasn’t born with a set on him because he should have nipped that in the bud on day one. People pay to be entertained. Now the NBA jumped on the bandwagon too. Stop with the pot stirring once & for all, it’s beyond old. We ALL matter, there I said it!!!! I have taken to boycotting everything I once enjoyed on tv! You all don’t hate all the sports figures & celebrities that beat or cheat or do drugs or commit offenses hell you all praise them even more. You don’t riot or burn down the cities over what they do! You don’t put them all in the same bracket do you? Politicians, priests, teachers, coaches, fathers, all are guilty are crimes some worse than others but don’t get the same hatred & disrespect that police officers do merely because they wear a uniform & some of your beloved politicians & priests have gotten away with far more crimes you don’t even know about!