NTSC USER

USA’s “Queen of the South” will stay on the throne for at least one more year



The cable channel has renewed the series for a third season in 2018, with a premiere date to be determined later.

The show has been a solid ratings performer for USA. First runs of the current season draw a 0.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 1.12 million viewers, essentially even with Season 1’s average of 0.4 and 1.22 million.

With a week of DVR and on-demand viewing, “Queen of the South” typically doubles its 18-49 rating and grows to 2 million viewers.

The series stars Alice Braga as Teresa Mendoza, who flees to the United States after her drug-dealing boyfriend is murdered. From her new home she methodically plots revenge against her boyfriend’s killers and becomes a player in the drug business herself.

The show is based on the novel “La Reina del Sur” by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It was previously adapted as a telenovela for Telemundo, USA’s corporate sibling.

The cast also includes Veronica Falcon, Justina Machado, Peter Gadiot, Hemky Madera and Gerardo Taracena. Showrunner Natalie Chaidez (“12 Monkeys,” “Hunters”) executive produces with David T. Friendly and Pancho Mansfield.