Show left to float in the void

The Expanse will end on Syfy with the final episode of Season 3, due to air in July. The critically praised show has been a moderate success for the network, but the way it is financed (fully independently by Alcon Television Group) probably makes its cancellation a business, rather than ratings, decision. Unlike The Magicians and Krypton (both of which also currently have better ratings), The Expanse isn't owned by Syfy (NBCUniversal) which only gets 'first-run' rights from the shows producers. Amazon Prime has streaming rights in the USA, and Netflix has worldwide distribution rights, so the majority of the profits from the show aren't going to Syfy.

"We are very disappointed the show will not be returning to Syfy," said Alcon Entertainment co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. "We respect Syfy’s decision to end this partnership but given the commercial and critical success of the show, we fully plan to pursue other opportunities for this terrific and original IP."

The Expanse was part of Syfy push back into its original role as a sci-fi and fringe shows. It was launched in 2015 alongside The Magicians, 12 Monkeys and the imported show Killjoys. The Expanse joins Dark Matter (also 2015, also imported) as a highly rated, but medium ratings, series cancelled by Syfy recently. That cancellation caused uproar in the fanbase - as will todays news - but with the unique way the series is funded, produced and already sold, theres greater hope of another network or platform picking up the pieces very soon.