Ben Mark Holzberg/The CW

The CW has renewed fan favorite, though low-rated, “Beauty and the Beast” for a fourth season to run during the 2015-2016 season. The fairytale drama premieres its 13-episode third season on Thursday, May 21 at 8 p.m.

The renewal is a huge vote of confidence for the show, which sank to a .29 rating in the advertiser-coveted Adults 18-49 demographic and averaged 800,000 viewers.

Also Read: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Enlists ‘Degrassi’ Star Charlotte Arnold for Season 3 Premiere

During January’s Television Critics Association press tour, CW president Mark Pedowitz had said that the series would return with a summer premiere date. He didn’t address whether it was going to be renewed for a fourth season — not a surprise since its third season had yet to air. However, The CW steers toward a younger demographic than the other broadcast networks and has been a forerunner in counting delayed, On Demand and online viewership and international sales into their programming decisions.

Produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Take 5 Productions/Whizbang Films, “Beauty and the Beast” centers on Cat (Kristin Kreuk), a detective who navigates her evolving relationship with a handsome doctor (Jay Ryan) who becomes a terrifying beast.

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Here’s CW’s description for the upcoming third season:

As season three begins, Cat (Kristin Kreuk) and Vincent (Jay Ryan) are able to focus on their love, finally free from Muirfield, manhunts and beasts. However, that love will be tested as new and more dangerous threats await. When they learn that innocent victims are being used to test the boundaries of the impossible, Cat and Vincent will uncover a deeper conspiracy, one which Vincent can fight only by turning to the beast he carries within. But unleashing the beast will risk Vincent’s life – along with his and Cat’s love – as they struggle to build a normal life together.

The CW Diversity Scorecard: From 'Arrow' to 'Vampire Diaries' (Photos)

Its cast is large, but "The 100" features only 3 non-white characters out of 11.
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"Arrow" is one of the network's highest-rated shows, but is not very diverse, with only one non-white cast member in a main roster of 8.
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"Beauty and the Beast" is among the most diverse shows on the network, with a cast led by Kristin Kreuk.
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Rachel Bilson-led "Hart of Dixie" features only one non-white character among six, ranking it among the least diverse shows on the CW.
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All of The CW's new shows are overall more diverse than past seasons, but midseason drama "iZombie" is the least diverse amongst the newbies, with 4 white and 2 non-white leads.
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"Jane the Virgin" starring Gina Rodriguez is the most diverse show on The CW for the 2014-2015 season, featuring a cast of 5 non-white and 2 white characters.
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"Reign," heading into its second season, is one of two shows on the network featuring zero non-white lead characters.
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"Supernatural" is the only other show besides "Reign" on The CW that features an all-white series regular cast.
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"The Flash" deliberately made white comic book characters African-American, and has surrounded its hero with a diverse group of allies.
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Not much is known about midseason sci-fi thriller "The Messengers," but its balance between white and non-white lead characters -- five to three -- is among the network's best.
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"The Originals" features vampires, werewolves and hybrids -- but most of them are white, with only one non-white character out of six.
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"The Vampire Diaries" also features all sorts of supernatural creatures, but only managed to scare up one non-white character out of a large group of 11.
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