There are plenty of variables that could explain the drops in both viewership and the valuable 18 – 49 demographic, since live TV viewing is down in general, but it’s more than possible that the absence of Hotch from Criminal Minds is a reason why fewer folks are tuning in.
Although eight episodes of Criminal Minds have aired since Thomas Gibson was fired, fans online haven’t given up on their hashtag efforts, especially after Hotch was officially written out after those first episodes.
The shifts in the status quo to compensate for Hotch’s departure – i.e. new characters – don’t seem to have done the trick in keeping everybody tuning in for the 2016 – 2017 TV season.
While no one involved with the show has been so candid about the boycott’s effect on the show, the ratings for Season 12 are officially lower than in seasons past.