Well, Digimon never had the popularity of Pokemon. It wasn't close. They just came out at the same time in the West.

I wasn't arguing that kids shows can't be cancelled, but recycling ideas or simple plot is usually not the reason.

Digimon equaled and beat Pokemon in ratings in the series depeartment a lot of times. Digimon didn't come out at the same time. It came out during late season 2 of Pokemon. And Digimon had a opening. Season 2 of Digimon was happening when Season 3 of Pokemon was starting to screw up the show. Monster Rancher also exsisted during this time. That eventually died too. Yokai Watch has more of a challenge.

It's not an established show as Pokemon. No matter the age of the child. Pokemon is known by older people. So it gets easier passes. Yokai is only the games and a starting show. A starting show. In the era of declining interests, in TV networks. Which is what I base its future to be on. But it won't replace Pokemon, in the long run. I'd say it will be on the level of Bayblade. It does fine. And continues to exsist. But won't reach Pokemon's icon status. It just can't with these new factors.

i want Level 5 to do well. They're my favorite game developer but I don't think this will do well at all in the west. I just don't see how it could appeal here.

Nope a much more recent week.
http://www.anime2you.de/news/56931/die-japanischen-anime-quoten-im-ueberblick-kw-422015/

Ah.  I thought you specifically meant 10th place.  Kindaichi, Dragon Ball, and Yokai Watch shuffle around frequently.

Pokemon's been running for so long already that I'd expect people are more easilly to jump into something more fresh. But, if we look at Digimon, that was supposed to be a "Pokemon killer" and how did it turn out.

Something new might gather the interest of people, but once the series start to recycle itself (that will happen sooner or later), we'll see how the popularity will hold.