NBC will not renew WDYTYA

The following is a press release from Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com Comments on Status of Who Do You Think You Are?
PROVO, Utah, May 13, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Ancestry.com Inc., the world's largest online family history resource, today commented on NBC's decision not to renew the Who Do You Think You Are? television series for a fourth season.
"We want to thank NBC for their support of this terrific series, which over the last three years has inspired many viewers to follow their passion to learn more about who they are and where they come from," said Tim Sullivan, President and CEO of Ancestry.com. "We have a great partnership with the show's producers, Is or Isn't Entertainment and Shed Media, and we look forward to exploring other avenues of distribution. 

Comment: I'm not surprised by this decision on NBC's part. Ratings have been less than spectacular this season. Because the format requires the subject personalities to travel, and they have to be paid, the economics make it difficult to schedule top-rated personalities. Yet top-rated personalities attract viewers. By contrast the Louis Gates Finding Your Roots program on PBS only requires a short in studio session making the big stars more affordable.

Ancestry would be well advised to look at some of the other genealogy-connected TV shows running elsewhere for their next TV initiative.