So is FlashForward really getting canceled?

I found an interesting post on TVBN (a blog about TV ratings) concerning FlashForward. Here it is in summary:

Here are the 18-49 ratings for Castle, V, and Flashforward (All ABC shows) counting repeat episodes and clip shows.

CASTLE: 0.85
FlashForward: 0.92
V: 1.16

Castle has already been renewed – despite bad ratings. But just the average doesn’t show the whole story.
Now here’s where things get interesting. If you strip out the repeats and clip shows, their indexes come in as follows:

Castle: 0.96
FlashForward: 0.95
V: 1.25

Unsurprisingly, all better than the regular index above.

Now for something completely different. Let’s look at more recent trends. To make things simple, let’s look at numbers from 2010 only. This might better explain why a show like Castle, who initially appears to have an index much lower than FF or V, has been renewed for weeks while FF and V, which seem like shoe-ins using the initial index above, are very much in doubt.

Their 2010 indexes thus come out as:

Castle: 1.07
FlashForward: 0.63
V: 0.96

So, what does that tell you? It shows that recent trends are more important than overall season ratings, since Castle was renewed. It makes alot more sense when you look at the 2010 indexes. Further, it shatters all hope that FlashForward will be renewed. There have been rumours that an international audience will make up for the bad ratings – but that’s really not common and ad revenues are lower outside of the US. V still has a chance, but for humanity’s sake, I hope it gets canceled. Recent writing puts to shame any and all acting ability Elizabeth Mitchell has. It gives me the sads.

A last note concerning FlashForward – I believe they will try to end the season in a nice tidy bow – or if the producers are upset, they might do an insane cliffhanger – just to spite the network. Who knows? I’ll still be watching, because the recent episodes are getting better and better. It ain’t over till it’s over.