Forged In Fire Is Available Free To Everyone, Which Is A Bad Thing For Fans Of The Show

The TV landscape is shifting, and the popular show Forged in Fire is at the center of a significant change. The series, once a staple of the History Channel, is now available on multiple free streaming services, including Samsung TV, Freevee, and, most recently, Story Television.

While this move may seem like a boon for fans who prefer free content, it doesn't bode well for the show's future on the History Channel and raises concerns about the prospects of new episodes.

The Shift to Free Streaming Services

Forged in Fire has been a fan favorite since its debut in 2015, captivating audiences with its unique blend of history, craftsmanship, and competition. However, the show's migration to free streaming platforms signals a potential decline in its prominence on traditional cable television. The series can now be watched without a subscription on:

Samsung TV: A platform known for its wide range of free live TV and on-demand content.
Freevee: An Amazon-backed service offering a variety of free movies and TV shows.
Story Television: A recent addition to the free streaming scene, focusing on historical and factual programming.

This shift suggests that the History Channel might be deprioritizing the show, potentially affecting its funding and production quality.

Why This Move Might Be a Red Flag

Decreased Viewership on Primary Network: When a show becomes widely available on free platforms, it can dilute the viewership on its original network. For Forged In Fire, this means fewer people might tune into the History Channel to watch new episodes, leading to lower ratings. In the competitive world of television, ratings are crucial for determining a show's future.
Revenue Impact: Cable networks like the History Channel rely on ad revenue generated from high viewership numbers. If the audience shifts to free streaming services, the ad revenue could decline, resulting in reduced budgets for producing new episodes. However, the inverse of this may also be true, as the binge-ability of the show will likely draw more revenue and episode views on the free streamers than airing reruns on the History Channel. In actuality, the show will likely make more profit for the History Channel in airing their old content for free than they would creating new episodes and airing them on their main channel.
Historical Precedent: With so many free streamers grasping for content, many reality-style television programs have been snatched up for their large catalog of binge-worthy content. As companies like Samsung desperately need to keep content on their free channels, shows like Forged In Fire are ripe for the picking. The unfortunate truth of this, however, is that not many shows featured on free streaming services continue to survive on paid cable networks.

The Future of Forged in Fire

While the availability of Forged in Fire on free streaming services might introduce the show to a broader audience, it also raises questions about its long-term viability. The History Channel's decision to distribute the show on these platforms could be a strategy to maximize viewership in the short term, but it risks undermining the show's sustainability.

For fans of the series, this move presents a double-edged sword. On one hand, the accessibility of Forged in Fire on multiple platforms is a positive development, allowing more people to enjoy the show. On the other hand, the potential decline in viewership on the History Channel and the associated revenue loss could lead to fewer new episodes being produced, or even the show’s cancellation.

You get what you pay for

The release of Forged in Fire on free streaming services such as Samsung TV, Freevee, and Story Television reflects broader trends in the television industry. While it offers immediate benefits in terms of accessibility, it also poses significant risks for the show's future on the History Channel. If history is any guide, the move to free platforms might be a harbinger of reduced investment in new episodes and potential cancellation. Fans should enjoy the increased availability but remain aware of the implications for the show's longevity.