Last week, there was a collective scream from Hannibal fans when it was announced by NBC the show’s third season would be delayed until at least the summer. Stag heads were burned, large knives were brandished – it wasn’t a pretty scene, furthered by the typical fan paranoia that a delay means imminent cancellation. While I’m sad to hear of Hannibal‘s delay, I can’t help but be a little excited about the prospect of Hannibal airing over the summer. Why? The reason is two-fold; first of all, it lessens the financial risk on NBC’s back. Sure, Hannibal isn’t paid for directly out of NBC’s pocket – but regardless, ad sales (or the lack of them) can quickly lead to cancellations. Expecting big numbers out of Hannibal was never really a reality anyway, something NBC knew when they pushed it to Friday nights for its second season.