When NBC cancelled Heroes last week, countless passionate fans were crestfallen at the loss of one their favorite series --- at least in theory.  I mean, the latest season of the superhero saga did average under five million viewers per episode, right?  Yet, in a statement addressing the Heroes fanbase, creator Tim Kring cited "more than 45 million TV viewers around the world." He lamented, "I certainly understand [NBC's] challenge of creating a business model around a show which arrived precisely as the audience was finding new ways to watch traditional content on multiple screens."  So the news likely did depress millions upon millions; unfortunately, too few were 18-49-year-olds who watched the show (and its commercials) live within the U.S., as those are the eyeballs advertisers shell out for.

My condolences to the fans, but hold out hope for a rumored  Heroes movie in 2011 to tie up the loose ends, and check out the whole Kring's statement after the jump.

Here is Tim Kring's full statement:

I want to first extend my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to the legion of enthusiastic fans who have watched ‘Heroes’ on TV, online,  DVR, DVD and mobile over the last four seasons. Every week more than 45 million TV viewers around the world, as well as millions of social and digital media-based fans, have made ‘Heroes’ one of the five most-watched shows across traditional and digital media screens in the history of television. For NBC, I certainly understand the challenge of creating a business model around a show which arrived precisely as the audience was finding new ways to watch traditional content on multiple screens. I personally have had 12 great years with my friends at NBC, and with ‘Heroes,’ they provided me a rare opportunity to put a message of hope, interconnectivity and global consciousness into the world.  For that I am grateful and look forward to finalizing our discussion about a number of ways to keep the ‘Heroes’ universe alive for its fans.

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