Lyla Lindsey
Madam Secretary is an American political drama television series that aired on CBS from 2014 to 2019. The show follows the life of Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni), a former CIA analyst and political science professor who becomes the United States Secretary of State. In Australia, the series was available to stream on Netflix starting in 2015, with new seasons added annually after their CBS broadcast. However, as of May 2025, the series has been removed from Netflix in the United States. It is unclear if the show will be available on other streaming platforms in Australia, but it may appear on services like Paramount+, Prime Video, or Hulu.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of seasons | 6 |
| First aired | 21 September 2014 |
| Last aired | 8 December 2019 |
| Total number of episodes | 120 |
| Streaming service | Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video |
| Genre | Drama, Political drama |
| Plot | A college professor steps into the political spotlight and navigates international crises and diplomatic intrigue |
| Main cast | Téa Leoni, Tim Daly, Bebe Neuwirth, Željko Ivanek, Erich Bergen, Patina Miller, Geoffrey Arend, Kathrine Herzer, Evan Roe, Wallis Currie-Wood |
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What You'll Learn
Madam Secretary is leaving Netflix in Australia
After almost a decade, all six seasons of the CBS political drama Madam Secretary will be removed from Netflix in Australia. The show's final season, which was added to the platform on 15 May 2020, will be taken down five years later to the day. Netflix first acquired the rights to Madam Secretary in 2015, adding new seasons annually after their CBS broadcast. The series, starring Téa Leoni as the newly appointed US Secretary of State, Elizabeth McCord, was well-received by critics and viewers alike. However, the show's ratings dropped significantly over time, with season 6 having less than half the viewership of the first season, leading to its cancellation.
Madam Secretary follows the journey of Elizabeth McCord, a college professor who is thrust into the political spotlight and the world of international crises and diplomatic intrigue. In the show, McCord navigates complex global conflicts, office politics, and a challenging personal life, all while trying to balance the demands of world politics with those of her family. The series also explores the lives of those around her, including her husband and three children.
The show has been praised for its strong central performance and well-written political drama. It has also sparked some controversies, with protests from East Timor's Minister of State and expressions of offence from the Vietnamese government regarding the inaccurate portrayal of their country. Despite these controversies, Madam Secretary enjoyed a wide audience and a dedicated fanbase during its run.
While the show's removal from Netflix may disappoint Australian fans, it will still be available on other streaming platforms. It is currently unclear where the show will land, but possibilities include Paramount+, Prime Video, Hulu, Pluto TV, and Tubi. With its long run and dedicated following, Madam Secretary has left its mark on the world of political drama television.
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The series aired from 2014 to 2019
The series 'Madam Secretary' first premiered on CBS on 21 September 2014. The show ran for six seasons, with the final season airing in late 2019 and concluding on 8 December 2019. The series explored the life of Elizabeth McCord (played by Téa Leoni), a former CIA analyst and political science professor who becomes the United States Secretary of State. Over its six-season run, the show followed McCord's journey as she navigated global conflicts, office politics, and her personal life.
The show was created by Barbara Hall, with Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary serving as executive producers. It received generally positive reviews from critics and had a total of 120 episodes aired during its original run. Despite its popularity and dedicated fanbase, 'Madam Secretary' was cancelled before a seventh season due to a significant drop in viewership.
In terms of streaming platforms, 'Madam Secretary' was available on Netflix in the United States for a decade, with the final season added in 2020. However, it was announced in 2025 that the series would be leaving Netflix due to the expiration of its streaming license. It is currently unclear where the show will stream next, but it may land on Paramount+ or other platforms like Prime Video or Hulu.
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It was cancelled before a seventh season
Madam Secretary is not coming back on in Australia or anywhere else. The show was cancelled before a seventh season, with the sixth season serving as the final season. The show's cancellation came as a surprise to its audience, as it was one of CBS's longest-running political dramas. However, the show's ratings had dropped significantly, with season 6 having less than half the viewership of the first season. The story also reached a natural conclusion in season 6, making it unnecessary and risky to continue the show.
The sixth and final season of Madam Secretary premiered on CBS on December 8, 2019, and concluded the show's run of 120 episodes. The season finale revealed that protagonist Elizabeth McCord had won the presidential election and finally earned the title of Madam President. Going any further in this story would have been a complete change of pace for the show, and in combination with the falling ratings, continuing the show would have been a risk that wouldn't have made sense to take.
The show's first season had an average of 14.16 million viewers, but that number dropped to an average of 6.74 million in season 6. On Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score for season 6 was 63% compared to the premiere season's impressive 83%. This decrease in viewership and ratings aligned with a drop in the show's favour with its fans over the years.
Madam Secretary is distributed and owned by CBS Television Studios, so it is likely that the show will be available on Paramount+. The show is also available to stream on Paramount+ through Apple TV+. It is unclear whether other platforms like Paramount+, which is owned by CBS' parent company, will also pick it up. There is also a possibility that it may surface on free ad-supported platforms like Pluto TV or Tubi, as seen with older CBS titles.
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The sixth season was the final season
The sixth and final season of "Madam Secretary" premiered on CBS on December 8, 2019, concluding the show's run of 120 episodes. The season's finale marked the culmination of the story's natural conclusion, with protagonist Elizabeth McCord's journey coming full circle as she won the presidential election and earned the title of Madam President.
The show's final season, consisting of 10 episodes, was met with a decline in viewership and a drop in ratings compared to its earlier seasons. Season 6 averaged 6.74 million viewers, less than half of the audience for Season 1, which averaged 14.16 million viewers. On Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score for Season 6 was 63%, lower than the impressive 83% of the premiere season and the peak of 90% in Season 2.
Despite the show's dedicated fanbase and reputation as one of CBS's longest-running political dramas, the significant drop in viewership and ratings contributed to the decision to conclude the series. The story's natural conclusion in Season 6, with the reveal of Elizabeth McCord's presidential victory, also influenced the show's ending. Going beyond this point would have required a significant change of pace, and the combination of falling ratings and narrative closure made it a suitable point to bring the series to a close.
While the sixth season marked the end of the show's initial run on CBS, it continued to be available on streaming platforms. The final season was added to Netflix US on May 15, 2020, a year after its CBS broadcast, as part of the platform's annual addition of new seasons. However, it was announced in 2025 that the series would be leaving Netflix due to the expiration of its streaming license. The show's removal from Netflix is expected to occur on May 15, 2025, exactly five years after its addition to the platform.
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It will still be available on Prime Video and Paramount+
Madam Secretary, the popular American political drama series starring Téa Leoni, is no longer available on Netflix. The series, which ran from 2014 to 2019, was removed from the streaming platform on May 15, 2025, after the streaming license expired. However, fans of the show in Australia and worldwide can still watch it on Prime Video. Prime Video offers a convenient streaming option for those who wish to continue following the journey of Elizabeth McCord, from her appointment as Secretary of State to her eventual election as the first female President of the United States. With its availability on Prime Video, viewers can easily catch up on all six seasons of the show, including the intense and morally complex work of Elizabeth McCord as Secretary of State, as well as her personal life and family dynamics.
In addition to Prime Video, Madam Secretary is also available on Paramount+. Paramount+ is owned by the same parent company as CBS, which was the original broadcaster of the series. This makes Paramount+ a natural home for the show, providing another streaming option for fans. The availability of Madam Secretary on Paramount+ through Apple TV+ further expands the accessibility of the series, allowing viewers to choose their preferred streaming platform.
The departure of Madam Secretary from Netflix and its availability on Prime Video and Paramount+ highlight the dynamic nature of streaming services and their licensing agreements. While Netflix once held the streaming rights to the series, the expiration of the license led to its removal. Now, with its presence on Prime Video and Paramount+, viewers have alternative options to continue enjoying the show.
The show's popularity and dedicated fanbase have ensured its continued accessibility through these alternative streaming platforms. Madam Secretary garnered positive reviews from critics and captured the interest of viewers with its blend of political intrigue and personal drama. The series also benefited from the performance of Téa Leoni in the lead role, as she navigated the challenges of international diplomacy and office politics.
With the show's conclusion in its sixth season, viewers can now experience the complete story arc of Elizabeth McCord's political journey, from her initial appointment to her ultimate election as President, all thanks to its availability on Prime Video and Paramount+.
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Frequently asked questions
Madam Secretary's sixth and final season was added to Netflix US on May 15, 2020. The series was never licensed to Netflix outside of the United States. However, it might be available on other streaming platforms in Australia, such as Prime Video or Hulu.
Madam Secretary is available to stream on Netflix in Australia until May 15, 2025. After that, it might move to other streaming platforms such as Paramount+, Prime Video, or Hulu.
Madam Secretary is leaving Netflix because its streaming license has expired. The series is distributed and owned by CBS Television Studios, so it might move to Paramount+, which is owned by CBS's parent company.
