Grey's Anatomy Corners ABC Into Renewing It For Season 23

An impressive new feat leaves ABC no choice but to renew Grey's Anatomy for season 23. Shonda Rhimes' legacy medical series has had so many eras in over two decades that it has been on the air. In the 2025-2026 TV cycle, it crossed a major milestone, hitting its 450th episode with "We Built This City." As it looks forward to its next landmark, ABC is on the cusp of deciding what's next for the series.

Grey's Anatomy season 22 has been busy for the people at Grey-Sloan with all sorts of storylines, including the death of Beltran, the return of Jackson, and major medical news for Richard. Most recently, "Strip That Down" brought back Addison Montgomery, who dropped a shocking update about her marriage to Jake. As Grey's Anatomy season 22 prepares for its final stretch of episodes, people are starting to consider what lies beyond this cycle for the Seattle-based hospital.

Grey's Anatomy Is The 2nd Most-Streamed Title Of 2025

Being on the air for over two decades is an incredible feat, especially considering how competitive the industry has become in the last few years. Admittedly, Grey's Anatomy is not topping linear ratings anymore the same way it did 10 years ago, although it's worth noting that it's still popular in the 18-49 demo. Still, networks have cancelled shows for lesser reasons, which makes it difficult to be complacent about Grey's Anatomy's future.

That said, the defining factor for ABC's decision will likely be the medical drama's largely underappreciated appeal on streaming. Per Nielsen (via THR), Grey's Anatomy is the second most-streamed title of 2025. Rhimes' procedural can be streamed on both Hulu and Netflix, posting 40.92 billion minutes streamed throughout last year. Bluey topped the list, with 45.20 billion minutes watched.

With those monster numbers, coupled with its decent showing during traditional broadcasts, it makes it difficult for ABC to just pull the plug on Grey's Anatomy. Granted that it's dealing with budgetary concerns, exacerbated by the expensive contracts of long-time cast members, the show has arguably found a way to deal with it more effectively this year, which included writing a narrative justification for Amelia's sabbatical.

Why ABC Needs Grey's Anatomy In Their Programming

Grey's Anatomy has had so many different eras during its time on the air. Ellen Pompeo's Meredith, who is the face of the show, is no longer a regular presence on the show, although she remains a player in it. Frankly, Rhimes could opt to end Grey's Anatomy anytime now, considering the rich history that it has already built in the last two decades. More than the producer and the show, it's actually ABC that needs it for their programming more.

The network's peers have their respective legacy shows — CBS has NCIS while NBC has Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order. All ongoing shows have been on the air for over two decades. ABC's counterpart is Grey's Anatomy, which is the only project on their roster to have been on the air for more than 20 years. This is an extremely impressive feat, having been achieved by only a handful of shows, especially in recent history. Given the status of TV content nowadays, reaching this rare milestone is almost impossible. That kind of prestige and legacy is what Grey's Anatomy provides for ABC.

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