Why Alaskan Bush People Stopped Airing On Sundays
Discovery's Alaskan Bush People has enjoyed a long run on the small screen, totaling 11 seasons since 2014. The show's longevity might have something to do with its complicated set of stars, which includes parents Ami and Billy Brown and their seven children, Matt Brown, Joshua "Bam Bam" Brown, Solomon "Bear" Brown, Gabriel "Gabe" Brown, Noah Brown, Amora "Birdy" Brown, and Merry Christmas "Rainy" Brown. Oh, and did we mention the cast's penchant for drama? Not only did the family recently rush a move from the wilderness of Alaska to Washington state, but they've also had their fair share of surprise marriages, addiction issues, and feuds.
However, despite the series' compelling plot points, it lost a prime scheduling slot when, in December 2019, it began airing on Wednesday evenings instead of Sunday nights. So, is this swap a sign the show is on its way out? Not necessarily. We explain why Alaskan Bush People stopped airing on Sundays after the jump.
Is Alaskan Bush People being pushed aside?
Fans were made aware of the scheduling change in November 2019, when Discovery's Twitter account announced, "Wolfpack HOWL! #AlaskanBushPeople is moving to WEDNESDAYS starting Dec 4 at 8p on @Discovery and Discovery GO." The network didn't provide a reason for the switch, although it's possible another Discovery show is to blame. "A similar show— Alaska: The Last Frontier — will now run on Sunday nights from 8 to 10 p.m., taking over Alaskan Bush People's hour-long spot," Country Living reported in response to the change, seeming to suggest Alaskan Bush People is being pushed aside to make way for the other series. The competing show follows the Kilcher family, a clan living outside of outside Homer, Alaska.
Another possibility here? Ratings. "The season 9 premiere of Alaskan Bush People, which aired on March 24, had only 1.8 million viewers and ranked in at #14 among the Sunday cable programs," Radar Online reported in 2019. It also claimed the family is desperate to save the show, with a source claiming, "They are going to pull out all the stops to save the show. Gabe's wedding to Raquell, Noah's baby and family feuding will hopefully bring ratings."
It looks like the clan's bid to improve ratings failed because only 1.5 million viewers tuned in on Jan. 1, 2020, per Soap Dirt. The upside? The Brown family has a lot of cash stowed away in case the show gets canceled.