The Onion

But ratings are different from profits! A show can be very highly rated and unprofitable. And that's precisely what Times article describes. It also goes into the shifts in viewership that are likely responsible for the loss of revenue and profitability. McDonald's wouldn't keep selling the Big Mac at a loss... they'd either hike the price, cut the cost, or stop selling it. It sounds like CBS was trying to improve the situation but the gap was widening, not narrowing. How long do you expect them to lose money on the show before cancelling it?

I am a fan of the show and am sad it was cancelled. But if you look at the facts, it's far more likely that this happened due to financial reasons.