‘Damages’: Will DirecTV save the struggling show?

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Talk of “Damages’” imminent cancellation started all the way back with this season’s premiere, which only averaged 1.43 million viewers. The ratings that followed continued to be disappointing, with the show averaging less than a million viewers. But has Sony, the company that produces ‘Damages,’ found a lifeline for the struggling show?
According to Entertainment Weekly, Sony has approached DirecTV to partner with them on a fourth season. The arrangement would be similar to the NBC / DirecTV deal that saved “Friday Night Lights.”

Reportedly, producing “Damages” is just too expensive to shoulder alone with such low viewership. If the satellite TV provider assumes some of the cost of producing the show, DirecTV’s 101 Network would air the episodes first, then they would run on FX.
According to TV By The Numbers, a top TV ratings blog, the chances are slim that DirecTV will want to get in on this deal.

“There’s nothing in this for DirecTV or anyone else,” states the site. “ ‘Friday Night Lights’ was no star for NBC on Friday nights prior to the arrangement with DirecTV, it was a total rock star compared to ‘Damages.’ Also, DirecTV makes a market in football exclusives (aka NFL Sunday Ticket) so there was at least thematically something that made sense.”

At this time, Sony has not returned our requests for comment.
How do you feel about the FX show’s chances for survival?

-- Jethro Nededog (Follow me on Twitter @TheRealJethro)

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Photo: From left, Glenn Close, Tate Donovan and Rose Byrne, the stars of ‘Damages.’ Credit: FX