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Millions And Millions; The Cost Of Canceling 'Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power'
The future of The Rings of Power remains unclear due to its high costs and low viewer ratings, creating a complex decision for Prime Video.
The future of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is uncertain, but canceling it is not a simple option for Prime Video. Sources indicate the company would have to pay as much as 40 million dollars to the Tolkien Estate if they decide to halt the project. While this figure sounds astronomical, it is actually lower than the cost of three episodes from the first season.
The fantasy series was announced as Amazon's flagship prestige project with a total investment of about 1 billion dollars. However, the outcomes did not meet expectations. Each episode cost approximately 20 million, but only a limited number of viewers completed the first season. In the United States, only 37 percent of viewers finished season one, while the international figure was slightly higher at 45 percent. Season two saw even lower viewership numbers, even though a larger percentage of that smaller audience did watch the series in full.
Despite the disappointing figures, work is still underway on a third season. Prime Video has not yet announced a premiere date, but production is in full swing. Analysts are questioning why the series continues to receive a follow-up given its high costs and limited success.
One literary agent previously stated that Amazon paid "far too much" for the rights. According to him, it would be better to cancel the project and invest in other series instead. Meanwhile, the original decision-makers at Amazon are no longer accountable, raising the question of who would suffer reputational damage in the event of a cancellation.
With the huge investment, The Rings of Power remains a tricky issue. Stopping it would cost millions, but continuing requires even more budget without any guarantee of success. For Prime Video, the stakes are higher than just viewer ratings: prestige and the credibility of the platform also play a role in the decision-making process.
The fantasy series was announced as Amazon's flagship prestige project with a total investment of about 1 billion dollars. However, the outcomes did not meet expectations. Each episode cost approximately 20 million, but only a limited number of viewers completed the first season. In the United States, only 37 percent of viewers finished season one, while the international figure was slightly higher at 45 percent. Season two saw even lower viewership numbers, even though a larger percentage of that smaller audience did watch the series in full.
Disappointing Results
Despite the disappointing figures, work is still underway on a third season. Prime Video has not yet announced a premiere date, but production is in full swing. Analysts are questioning why the series continues to receive a follow-up given its high costs and limited success.
One literary agent previously stated that Amazon paid "far too much" for the rights. According to him, it would be better to cancel the project and invest in other series instead. Meanwhile, the original decision-makers at Amazon are no longer accountable, raising the question of who would suffer reputational damage in the event of a cancellation.
Risk For Prime Video
With the huge investment, The Rings of Power remains a tricky issue. Stopping it would cost millions, but continuing requires even more budget without any guarantee of success. For Prime Video, the stakes are higher than just viewer ratings: prestige and the credibility of the platform also play a role in the decision-making process.
