It’s a mixed outcome for MacFarlane and crew. Although it does ensure that you’ll see The Orville in some form (the implication was that it might not have survived otherwise), it also shunts the production to an online-only service where the audience might be smaller. In a sense, this is a test of the appeal of online video services. You could soon find out whether fans of a recent hit show will follow it online or stick to conventional TV due to costs or familiarity.