The Simpsons are here to stay! The long-running animated comedy series has been given a two-season renewal on FOX will take it to season 31 and 32. The epic renewal will carry the series to an astonishing 713 episodes.
The Simpsons, which is the longest-running scripted program in television history, was never in doubt of getting renewed but there was some concern due to their producer, 20th Century Fox TV, moving to Disney following the completion of the $71.3 billion acquisition. The renewal shows that FOX is fully committed to the series and they’re also committed to the rest of their animated block as well. Family Guy is already locked for the next two seasons, while Bob’s Burgers is set for the next year.
Fox Broadcasting Co is said to have been losing some money on The Simpsons due to the show getting more expensive to produce the longer it runs. It’s being reported that there has been a slight license fee reduction for the animated show which will soften the blow. It’s also a legacy series for the network and is a profit generator for the network in other ways due to merchandising, syndication and international reach.
Throughout its long run, the series has drawn solid and consistent ratings. Even though it’s not the pop culture magnet it once was during its heyday, The Simpsons is averaging a 1.9/7 among adults 18-49 and 4.8 million total viewers. Through January 20, The Simpsons has a multi-platform average audience of 7.5 million total viewers, an 82% gain from its Live+Same Day delivery (7.5M vs. 4.2M). In its 30th season, the series ranks as one of the Top 5 comedies among adults 18-49(tie) and the No. 2 comedy among adults 18-34(tie). Among broadcast series, The Simpsons ranks among the season’s Top 5 among men 18-49(tie), Top 20 among adults 18-34 and as the No. 2 broadcast series overall among men 18-34(tie). Additionally, the January 13 “The Girl on the Bus” episode had a 3.5 L7 rating among adults 18-49, making it the highest-rated episode of any scripted series in that demo on Fox this year.
The Simpsons is also a show that has left its mark on the industry since its launch. Currently, in its 30th season, The Simpsons has won 33 Emmy Awards, 34 Annie Awards, a 2016 People’s Choice Award and a 2016 Environmental Media Award. It was the first animated series to win a Peabody Award and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2012 for the theatrical short The Longest Daycare. The series also has spawned a hit movie and a Universal Studios ride and was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000.
