NBC has renewed five series for the 2024-2025 season: 'Chicago Fire,' 'Chicago Med,' 'Chicago P.D.,' 'Law & Order' and 'Law & Order: SVU.'
All five of the returning shows are created by Universal Television, a part of Universal Studio Group, in partnership with Wolf Entertainment. There is one important series that is not on the renewed list. The fate of 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' is still under discussion, according to a knowledgeable insider.
It's not very surprising that NBC would decide to extend these specific series. All three of Dick Wolf's 'Chicago' series are among the top 10 entertainment shows of the season in terms of total viewers. They're also the top three Wednesday shows for the season in terms of total viewers.
These series have also experienced significant growth compared to their viewership last season. 'Chicago Fire' is currently averaging 12.6 million viewers, an increase of 86%, and has seen an increase of 236% in the 18-to-49 demo. 'Chicago P.D.' saw a 114% increase in total viewers, bringing its average viewer count to 12 million, as well as a 287% increase in the demo. Finally, 'Chicago Med' is averaging 10.5 million viewers, a 57% jump in total viewership and a 141% increase in the demo.
The two extended 'Law & Order' series have seen similar growth as 'SVU' currently ranks as the No. 1 Thursday entertainment show in the demo. The main legal drama is averaging 7.7 million this season, an increase of 56% in terms of total viewers and an increase of 122% in the demo. Similarly, 'Law & Order: SVU' is averaging 11.2 million viewers, a 111% increase in total viewership as well as a 325% increase in the demo.
'Law & Order: Organized Crime' being in renewal limbo is just the latest complex story around this particular NBC show. The first showrunner for the series was Matt Olmstead, who later stepped down in the fall of 2020 and was replaced by Ilene Chaiken. She was then replaced by Barry O’Brien in 2022, who was then replaced by Bryan Goluboff for Season 3. That season saw the most disorder with Goluboff being replaced by Sean Jablonski, who was then replaced by David Graziano for the final episodes of the season. The fourth installment of the legal drama was helmed by John Shiban.
