Could Disney Finally Cancel ‘The Simpsons’, And Make More Money In The Process?
By Chris Evangelista/Jan. 23, 2019 3:00 pm EST
According to Variety, Disney is mulling over pulling the plug on one of American TV’s oldest institutions – The Simpsons. The animated series is currently in the midst of its 30th season, and there’s almost a deal in place to keep the show going till at least season 32. After that, though? It might finally be time to say goodbye to Springfield.
The reason? Money, money, money. In 2013, FX secured cable and streaming syndication rights for the series for a whopping $750 million. But a new syndication deal could make that number look paltry. As Variety explains:
The FX deal is in place until 2023. Afterwards, if Disney decided to end the show after season 32, it “would free Disney to negotiate a new deal or deals covering broadcast, cable and streaming that would potentially” be worth a heck of a lot more than $750 million. In other words, The Simpsons might be worth even more money cancelled than it is currently airing. The show actually burns money to produce, especially with actor contracts to consider. “It’ll set a record because it will be such a huge library,” said media consultant Brad Adgate.
When and if this happens, Disney has several options. They could break the show’s many episodes up and rotate them, drop them on Hulu, or even add them to the upcoming Disney streaming service Disney+. For now, though, The Simpsons will continue to run new episodes for at least two more seasons.
I used to be a huge fan of The Simpsons. The type of fan who could obsessively quote lines at the drop of a hat. But that was back when the show was, well, good. The first 8-10 seasons of The Simpsons remain some of the best TV ever created. After that, though, the series has dropped in quality significantly. I’d be fine to say farewell to it once and for all.
