Facebook Watch is Facebook’s video-on-demand service that was launched in 2017 as a platform for original video content. Over the past few years, Facebook has invested heavily in developing original shows for Facebook Watch in an effort to compete with streaming giants like Netflix and Hulu. However, not all of their original programming has been successful. Since 2017, Facebook has cancelled over a dozen shows that failed to attract a large enough audience on the platform. In this article, we will take a look at the shows that Facebook has cancelled in the short lifespan of Facebook Watch so far.
Why Facebook Watch Shows Get Cancelled
There are a few key reasons why Facebook ends up cancelling shows on Watch after only one or two seasons:
- Low viewership – If a show does not drive enough views and engagement on the platform, Facebook will typically cancel it rather than investing in more seasons. Many Facebook Watch shows have struggled to find a sizable audience.
- High production costs – Producing high quality original video content is expensive. If a show is not generating enough viewership to justify the production budget, Facebook will pull the plug.
- Lack of buzz – Facebook looks for shows that generate cultural buzz and conversation. Shows that fail to make an impact in the cultural zeitgeist are less likely to be renewed.
- Shift in strategy – Facebook is still experimenting with its original content strategy. Changing priorities have led Facebook to cancel some shows that no longer align with their content vision.
The highly competitive streaming landscape also means that Facebook Watch needs to be judicious in deciding where to invest its original content dollars. While Netflix can afford to stick with shows for many seasons despite low initial viewership, Facebook Watch has shown less patience.
The First Wave of Cancelled Shows
When Facebook Watch first launched in 2017, the platform debuted around two dozen original shows. It was an ambitious rollout of original programming. However, in the first couple years, it became clear that the majority of these initial shows were falling flat with viewers.
By early 2019, Facebook had cancelled about 15 of those initial shows. Some examples of shows cancelled in this first wave include:
- Skam Austin – An American adaptation of a Norwegian teen drama series, it ran for one season.
- Sacred Lies – A drama about a cult escapee searching for her mother, it was cancelled after season 1.
- Five Points – A teen drama set on the south side of Chicago, it lasted 10 episodes.
- Sorry for Your Loss – A drama starring Elizabeth Olsen as young widow, it got 2 seasons before being axed.
- Limetown – A mystery series based on a popular podcast, it was cancelled after 1 season.
The cancellations of these shows illustrated that Facebook Watch was still struggling to find its footing as a provider of original content. Having rushed out a slate of shows with big ambitions in 2017, the tepid response made it clear Facebook would need to course correct going forward.
More Recent Cancellations
Even after the initial wave of cancellations, Facebook has continued to cancel more shows that have failed to make an impact. Some more recent examples include:
- Human Discoveries – An animated comedy featuring the voices of Anna Kendrick and Zac Efron that was cancelled in 2020 after one season.
- The Birch – A horror series about an ancient monster, it got the axe after a single season in 2020.
- Paradise Square – A musical drama about racial conflict in 1863 New York, it was cancelled after 6 episodes aired.
- Cable Girls – The Spanish-language period drama series was cut short and given a truncated final season.
While Facebook continues to order new shows every year, the list of cancellations illustrates the challenges they’ve faced in getting shows to stick on the platform. Big budgets, bold concepts and famous talent haven’t prevented many shows from flaming out quickly.
Common Traits of Cancelled Shows
Looking at the full list of shows Facebook has cancelled to date, we can identify some common traits:
- Niche genres like period dramas and fantasy/horror that fail to have mainstream appeal.
- Adaptations of podcasts, books, or foreign shows that fail to translate successfully.
- Expensive high-concept shows that never find an audience.
- Shows without enough buzzworthy stars or viral moments to break through.
While Facebook took some big swings early on and explored many genres, it’s clear now that shows need broad appeal and viral word-of-mouth potential in order to survive long-term. Niche shows or expensive productions that fail to generate buzz have ended up on the Facebook Watch chopping block.
Where Facebook Watch Goes From Here
While Facebook Watch has had its fair share of misfires and cancellations so far, the platform isn’t giving up entirely on original shows. They’ve indicated they want to learn from their mistakes and refine their content strategy going forward.
Some ways Facebook seems to be adjusting include:
- Ordering more unscripted and reality shows, which tend to be popular on the platform.
- Focusing on current cultural trends and viral moments rather than high-concept genre pieces.
- Letting the Facebook algorithm play a bigger role in selecting content based on user data.
- Partnerships with popular digital creators and online talent.
Rather than competing directly with Netflix and Hulu on prestige dramas or sci-fi shows, Facebook seems focused on more accessible, shareable content optimized for mobile and social media.
Only time will tell how successful Facebook’s adjusted strategy is. But by learning from past cancellations, Facebook Watch still has a chance to eventually find the right formula for original shows – even if it’s taken a few stumbles out of the gate. The key will be finally unlocking the code for shows that tap into viral online culture and get people engaging across Facebook and beyond.
Full List of Cancelled Facebook Watch Shows
Here is a full rundown of all the shows Facebook has cancelled since launching the Watch platform in 2017:
| Show | Genres | Seasons Aired | Year Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skam Austin | Teen drama | 1 | 2018 |
| Sacred Lies | Drama, Thriller | 1 | 2018 |
| Five Points | Teen drama | 1 | 2018 |
| Sorry for Your Loss | Drama | 2 | 2019 |
| Limetown | Mystery | 1 | 2019 |
| Human Discoveries | Animated comedy | 1 | 2020 |
| The Birch | Horror | 1 | 2020 |
| Paradise Square | Musical drama | 1 | 2022 |
| Cable Girls | Period drama | 5 | 2022 |
Key Takeaways
Facebook Watch has cancelled over a dozen shows that failed to find an audience since launching in 2017. Low viewership, high costs, and lack of buzz have contributed to these cancellations. Facebook seems to be adjusting its content strategy to focus on more accessible, viral, social-friendly programming going forward. But successfully cracking the original content code remains an ongoing challenge.
Conclusion
Facebook’s journey into original video content has proven to be a bumpy one so far. But with over 2 billion monthly users, the potential audience for Facebook Watch shows remains massive. As Facebook learns from past missteps, figures out the right genres and formats for its platform, and harnesses the power of social media to promote new shows, they have the opportunity to eventually produce viral hit shows. However, doing so will require evolving their content strategy and approach. The slate of cancelled shows illustrates the difficulty of the task at hand. Facebook will need to take the lessons from these early cancellations to heart if they hope to one day compete with the likes of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Only the shows that truly tap into the social, viral nature of Facebook itself are likely to survive long-term.