Air time might be a factor.
Emergence is up against FBI most wanted. (previously may have been up against NCIS New Orleans?) 
I'm not sure what to suggest as an ABC program up against FBI most wanted, but I do believe that moving Emergence to another day (up against something else) will bring in better, or slightly better ratings.
 

I like this show and the only thing that might save it is online viewing the following days after the original broadcast. That is now a major factor taken into account by networks trying to decide whether to renew a show on the bubble - which this one is. 

I'm not sure what it is about over-the-air sci-fi tinged shows, but for the few that succeed, there's a litany of failures you don't seem to see in other kinds of genres. The history of TV is littered with them, and as usual, they almost always end on cliffhangers that are never solved.

In the case of "Emergence," the producers promised they'd reveal the mystery behind Piper, and they mostly have. Of course, they've introduced new plot twists that will never be revealed if the thing doesn't return. (Unless a Netflix-type service picks it up.)

The decisions on what gets renewed and what doesn't mostly come in May. So we may not know until then if there's a re-emergence of Emergence.

 From: https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/emergence-cancelled-or-renewed-for-a-second-season-on-abc/ 

They have this to say:

"Will ABC cancel or renew Emergence for season two? The ratings have been dropping and weren’t all that great to start. The show does better in delayed viewing but I have doubts that that will be enough to save Emergence from being cancelled. I’ll update this page with breaking developments. Subscribe for free alerts=14px on Emergence=14px cancellation or renewal news."

Last edited by Radiowiz (January 27, 2020 12:52 am)

mace wrote:

According to tvseriesfinale.com, after week 17, Emergence is ranked 71st out of 104 series. It's direct competition, FBI:Most Wanted is 15th and New Amsterdam is 35th. The lead-in for Emergence is Blackish which is sitting at #72. Most Wanted follows #4 FBI while New Amsterdam airs after #12 This Is Us. If ABC pulls Emergence for the February Sweeps, I suspect it will never return.

New Amsterdam is renewed already and will air right into 2023 ( https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/new-amsterdam-seasons-three-four-and-five-nbc-drama-renewed-through-2022-23/ ) 

I have to agree that unlike a show "in 35th" a show not doing nearly as well might vanish. 

 

One of the creators and producers of the show is from Western New York, which is why The Buffalo News has taken special interest in it. The article below contains this little nugget of hope for its "Emergence" from cancellation.

"The big thing Fazekas is going to grapple with soon is whether “Emergence” will get a second season. She doesn’t expect ABC to make a decision until May when the so-called upfronts announcing the new season are held.

“Creatively, we get great feedback,” before citing the numbers.

She said the ratings for “Emergence” seven days after it airs are up 80% and it grows to 133% 35 days after it airs."

ABC's 'Emergence' is the real thing as show ends first season

The TV Grim Reaper seems pretty confident that the show is dead and I don't disagree. Anything beyond Live+3 numbers are almost worthless for ad-supported TV, so it's a bad sign the producers are hawking those digits. 

Radiowiz wrote:

Retaw wrote:

The TV Grim Reaper seems pretty confident that the show is dead and I don't disagree. Anything beyond Live+3 numbers are almost worthless for ad-supported TV, so it's a bad sign the producers are hawking those digits. 

...but maybe the problem isn't the show itself.
Maybe the problem IS what it's up against. 
I honestly don't know...I'm just throwing it out there that maybe more people prefer to watch New Amsterdam.
Try another day (as in, not just a new time slot, move the show to another day and see if that helps any...)
Changing nights could work with a good lead-in. However, a Friday or Saturday move could be fatal as those two nights are generally the least viewed.
 

This is totally off topic, but since this thread is about a network TV show, I just want to note that tonight, Thursday, is the final episode of "The Good Place," one of the most unique and bizarre shows ever to get the greenlight from any U.S. TV outlet.

It combined a great cast with amazing writing and dared to delve into philosophy, existentialism and the meaning of life - all without ever alienating or talking down to an audience and without ever being anything but hilarious. You barely even realized what you were learning. 

While it was never a huge ratings smash (few network shows are anymore) and it takes a few episodes to see what  it's trying to do, it's one of the few whose creator knew when to call it quits, bringing it to an end of his own volition after just four all-too-short seasons. And if there's ever been a greater character than Jason Mendoza in the last decade I don't know who it is. 

For those who appreciated this opus and its surreal tone, a reminder that the final episode is 90 minutes long, instead of the regular half hour. I will really miss this show - every week it left me in a Good Place. And there aren't many network TV programs left I can say that about.   

mace wrote:

Good Place final episode tonight?  No forking way!!

OH FORK!! I missed it at 8:30! Now I have to record it at 11:30 because I'll be watching news!