Is 'Sister Wives' Being Canceled? Brown Family Responds To Rumors

Fans who are still watching TLC's look into polygamy by tuning in to "Sister Wives" on Sunday nights may need to prepare to say goodbye to the Brown family, as a new report suggests the current season of the reality series will be the last.

According to In Touch Weekly, the reality series is going to be canceled by TLC after the current season finishes airing, due to poor viewership numbers, and the family patriarch, Kody Brown, has been notified. However, the report indicates he can't be too shocked by the news, as the series was reportedly already on the cable channel's chopping block back in 2016.

"TLC was less than impressed by the ratings," a source told the magazine.

The source noted that the season before the one currently airing brought in a viewership of 1.8 million during its premiere, though that wasn't a number that TLC had been impressed by. However, after Kody allegedly agreed to a pay cut in the family's salaries, they allowed them to have another chance at a new season.

"Kody told them he'd be willing to have the network slash his family's pay from $180,000 for each adult to $180,000 total if it meant they could make Season 12. He put everything on the line to convince them it could still work," the source said.

However, the numbers reportedly still haven't been impressive enough, and TLC has allegedly informed the Brown clan that their time at the network is up.

"Three years ago, the show could command 2.5 million viewers, but fans are leaving the show in droves," the source continues. "TLC has broken the news to Kody that it plans to cancel 'Sister Wives' after the current season because ratings have been so tepid. Kody can kiss any hope of a Season 13 goodbye."

While it is unclear whether TLC has actually pulled the plug on the series, it does appear the show has been suffering when it comes to ratings in recent weeks. The most recent numbers from TV By The Numbers, which tracks show performance, the show recently pulled in only 1.4 million viewers for the episode which aired on Jan. 28, placing 15th overall in the performance charts, and losing out in its 8:00 p.m. time slot to Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and HGTV's "Beachfront Bargain Hunt."

Though it is unclear if the same audiences would have usually tuned in to the show, that same date also featured competition from NFL regular season coverage on ESPN, as well as the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, which aired on CBS. That show, while down significantly in views, pulled in 19.8 million viewers.

The Brown family has not responded directly to rumors of a cancellation, though Meri Brown may have hinted that the family isn't paying attention to the reports by posting a quote about giving others respect on her Twitter account.

This isn't the first time the show has notably been rumored to be on the verge of cancellation however. TLC failed to mention if the current season would be happening at all throughout 2017, making fans wonder if the show had quietly been canceled then. The news it was back only came with a trailer that dropped a few weeks prior to the show's return in January.

Similarly, in 2016, several reports indicated that Kody was considering adding a fifth wife to the family in an effort to increase ratings and keep the show going, though those rumors were quickly debunked.

"Sister Wives" airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on TLC.