LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Lifetime has pulled the plug on its Ally Walker-led drama "The Protector," the network confirmed this afternoon to Deadline.com.

The series averaged 1.369 million viewers and a 0.4 rating among adults 18-49 on Sunday nights this summer (6/12/11-7/24/11), well behind its "Drop Dead Diva" lead-in (2.319 million viewers and a 0.8 adults 18-49 rating; 6/19/11-7/24/11).

"Protector" subsequently moved to Monday nights at 10:00/9:00c on August 1 to make room for fellow newcomer "Against the Wall," where it posted a series low 849,000 viewers and a 0.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic. Lifetime relocated the series out of prime the following week (to 11:00/10:00c), numbers for which weren't available.

Two more installments of "Protector" have yet to air: "Ghosts" (September 12) and "Safe" (September 19).

As for "Against the Wall," the Rachael Carpani-led hour has improved upon "Protector's" numbers in the Sunday, 10:00/9:00c slot, delivering 1.808 million viewers to date this summer (7/31/11-9/4/11), including a 0.5 adults 18-49 rating. That's despite a downtick from its "Diva" lead-in (2.257 million viewers, 0.7 adults 18-49 rating) during the same stretch.

"The Protector" was produced by ABC Studios with the creative team of Jeffrey Bell, Nina Wass and Gene Stein serving as executive producers.