what is the average run of a tv show before being axed

The NBC political programme Meet the Press has been broadcast continuously since November, 1947, and is still going strong. It has had 11 presenters so far. BBC TV News has been broadcast continuously since January 1954 and the BBC weather man (not the same one) has been on our screens since 1954 also.
 
If you mean the true mathematical average - rounded up to whole seasons - then it will likely be 1 season. Given the vast number of shows that get cancelled before even making it to one season.
 
A show is usually aiming for 5 series (about 100 episodes if it is of US origin) to get good syndication deals.

Such a show would be considered a success.

Many have to renegotiate contracts around series 6 or 7 to the extent that they would become more expensive to make as cast would expect big pay rises if it has got that far.
 
A lot of decent, long running shows tend to fade after the eighth year. The Generation Game was top of its game in 1979, its eighth year, but by 1981 an ageing format and massive competition saw it cancelled due to collapsing ratings, same as BB really started to tail off after 2007.
 
I'll agree as programmes tend to get tired. Porridge and its spin off Going Straight ran for five successful years, but Ronnie Barker knew that Going Straight was slightly below the standard of Porridge and refused to make a second series.
 
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