His ratings hover at around a million viewers, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.
At HBO profit is defined by programming that gets people to sign up for or keep their service, stuff like “Game of Thrones.” The type of shows that also have an afterlife on DVD. Neither applies to Maher and his ratings.
The show is a money-losing vanity project that showcases the political views of HBO executives.
I don't think the show loses that much money. The fact is that panel shows like that are dirt cheap to produce. The guests don't get paid anything beyond expenses, or maybe an AFTRA minimum if they're members. It's a single, built set that they roll out on the stage for the shoot then stick back in the warehouse until next week. Hire a couple of camera people for a few hours, a floor director and some other crew and you're done. He probably has a writing staff of a half dozen or so. Compared to something like Game of Thrones or Boardwalk Empire, this is a bargain way to fill a few hours (with the repeats) in the schedule.