“Once Upon a Time” has been renewed for a sixth season at ABC. Co-creater Adam Horowitz tweeted the news Thursday afternoon, thanking the show’s fans.
ABC is expected to announce additional early renewals today for more of its returning shows.
“Once Upon a Time” has seen a steep ratings decline in its current fifth season, but the show is an important property for the Disney/ABC family and has a highly devoted fan-base, dubbed “Oncers” on social media.
Based on live + 7 ratings, the fantasy series is drawing an average of 7.3 million viewers this year, compared to 9.9 million at the same point last year.
Despite the ratings decline, the intense social-media engagement surely did not go unnoticed with this early renewal, and the news of the season-six pickup will likely be trending within minutes of this post being published.
Thrilled to announce that #OnceUponATime has been picked up for season 6! Thank you ABC and thank you to the most extraordinary fans ever!
— Adam Horowitz (@AdamHorowitzLA) March 3, 2016