Rescue: Hi-Surf was praised for its authenticity and initial success with audiences. But that was contradicted by recent statements from Fox. Photo: Rescue: Hi-Surf
Surfing’s latest spotlight moment in mainstream TV programming has come to an end after Fox declined to renew Rescue: HI-Surf for a second season.
Fox originally touted the show’s success, even after it was bumped out of a primetime slot directly after the Super Bowl. In a press release about the decision, Fox said the show was “riding a wave of ratings momentum” despite losing the coveted programming window.
However, recent comments by Fox Entertainment’s CEO Rob Wade in the entertainment industry publication Deadline paint a different picture. “(The show) just didn’t resonate with our audience the way we needed to be able to return it,” said Wade.
According to Deadline, the series averaged 2.98 million viewers and did not exceed Fox’s typical TV show budget of $3-4 million per episode. The costs trended on the higher end of that range since it was filmed in Hawaii, but Wade denies that had anything to do with the decision not to renew.
“It certainly wasn’t the locale or the budget. It just didn’t quite grab the audience,” he said, contradicting Fox’s more upbeat press release earlier this year.
When the series premiered in September 2024, its initial performance looked like a sure bet for renewal. The premiere was viewed by 4.7 million people and received a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49. “(Those viewership numbers are) quite impressive as scripted broadcast series rarely perform that well in same-day ratings anymore,” said Deadline.
Warner Bros., the co-producer of the series, reportedly does not have plans to shop the series to other broadcast networks or streaming services. The show’s departure from Oahu will be a substantial hit to the local economy after it had created 2,100 local jobs and $31.75 million in wages.
