CBS is well aware of Blue Bloods‘ influence, making the network’s decision to wrap up the hit police procedural and forge ahead with an in-universe spinoff series even more frustrating for fans of the original show. Blue Bloods has been a CBS mainstay since 2010, growing to become one of the network’s longer-running scripted primetime TV series with 14 seasons and almost 300 episodes to its name. In addition to longevity, Blue Bloods has maintained its viewership status as TV’s no. 1 10 p.m. series, consequently “leading the Network’s top-rated Friday night lineup,” per CBS News.

Despite the show’s integral accomplishments, late last year, CBS officially canceled Blue Bloods and asserted that season 14 would be the series’ final. The decision baffled audiences and instigated a fan-led campaign petitioning for Blue Bloods’ continuation. Instead of catering to the wishes of Blue Bloods’ devoted fanbase, CBS released news of the network’s interest in a Blue Bloods spinoff series. As if the production of a spinoff over Blue Bloods season 15 wasn’t maddening enough, CBS Studios President David Stapf recently acknowledged just how special the original series has become.

CBS Knows Blue Bloods Is “Beloved” – But Canceled It Anyway

CBS Is Decisive On A New Direction For Blue Bloods

In a recent interview, Stapf gave a candid update on the Blue Bloods spinoff, doubling down on CBS’s interest in taking the IP in a new direction. What the new direction entails and who will be involved is still to be determined, as according to the CBS executive, the spinoff is still in its early development stages. Beyond giving an update on the spinoff, Stapf recognized the original Blue Bloods series as a “brand, a title, and a show that is beloved,” adding fuel to the confusion fire of why a spinoff is in development when the flagship series is so distinguished.

Stapf’s comment not only acknowledges Blue Bloods’ commercial influence but also the devotion of the fans it has accrued over the last 14 years. Considering that CBS knows the demand is there, the show’s ratings are good, and even the cast of Blue Bloods want it to continue, developing more of the original series seems like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, something is stopping CBS from taking Blue Bloods past season 14, and it has to be substantial to disregard the outpour of support the series is receiving and everything the show has proven to offer.

Why A Blue Bloods Spinoff Is Happening When The Main Show Was Canceled

A Blue Bloods Spinoff Will Likely Cost Less Than Maintaining The Original Show

CBS has yet to reveal the reason behind Blue Bloods’ cancelation, though many reports claim that the network’s decision stemmed from production costs. In truth, continuing the Blue Bloods series would mean footing the bill for shooting on location in New York City, paying the performers in its cast, and maintaining all the other odd expenditures of producing a series more than it already has. Although cast and crew members alike have been willing to bear pay losses, the financial cons of continuing the series have apparently outweighed the pros.

If production costs are indeed the reason behind Blue Bloods’ cancelation, then why a Blue Bloods spinoff is happening in place of season 15 makes sense. Starting fresh would give the network the leeway to pursue a more cost-effective production environment (like choosing cheaper shooting locations, bartering with a new cast of performers and their pay expectations, etc.). From CBS’s vantage point, a Blue Bloods spinoff could be mutually beneficial – the network’s executives get the budget cuts they sought while the legacy of the IP can live on.