AceShowbiz - The Bachelorette is expected to cost ABC more than $30 million in losses following the network’s decision to pull its 22nd season from the schedule.

The network abruptly removed the season, which was set to premiere on a Sunday, after a video emerged showing a 2023 domestic violence incident involving the season’s lead, Taylor Frankie Paul, who is also known for her role on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.

In a statement, Disney Entertainment Television said, "In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family."

The production budget for The Bachelorette averages around $2 million per episode. Although ABC had not confirmed how many episodes were planned for this season, estimates place the production cost between $20 million and $25 million. Regardless of whether the season ever airs, ABC remains liable for a license fee payable to Warner Horizon, the production company behind the franchise.

Marketing and promotional expenses would add several million dollars, bringing the total investment close to $30 million. This figure does not consider the impact on advertising revenue.

Industry insiders note that a 30-second commercial spot during The Bachelorette typically costs about $100,000. With roughly 30 minutes of ads per two-hour episode, the network stands to lose millions in potential ad sales per show.

ABC will continue to sell advertising for whatever programming replaces The Bachelorette’s Sunday timeslot. For the immediate future, this slot has been filled by a rerun of American Idol. However, ad rates for replacement programming are significantly lower, which will reduce overall revenue.

Additionally, ABC might be required to provide make-good ads to those advertisers who had already purchased airtime for the now-canceled season, further adding to the financial strain.

There remains some uncertainty over the final financial outcome, as ABC and Disney could decide to air the season at a later date. Should that happen, the network would likely reduce the total losses, but it is unlikely the season would fully recoup its costs.

While a $30 million loss is substantial, it represents a relatively small fraction of Disney's overall entertainment division revenue. In the last quarter of 2025, Disney reported $11.6 billion in revenue and $1.1 billion in operating income for this segment, which includes ABC.

This scrapped season highlights the challenges networks face when unexpected controversies arise, forcing costly decisions that impact both production budgets and advertiser relationships.