It’s a new fall season and the primetime phenomenon One Chicago Wednesday is back. Yay.
For over a decade, Chicago Fire, Med and P.D. have been the backbone of Chicago’s film and television production community. Not to mention, the interconnected series has captured the hearts of millions and established Chicago as a powerhouse in the entertainment world.
But everything does have an expiration date. What happens if and when the three series hit theirs?
Make no mistake, at this point, One Chicago Wednesday remains a ratings juggernaut. Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med consistently perform well in the Nielsen ratings, with each series drawing millions of viewers every week. The shows have become a staple of NBC’s primetime lineup and continue to have a “Must See” aura about them, proving that audiences still have a deep connection to these first responders and medical professionals.
And amazing ratings mean advertising dollars.
This isn’t just a win for NBC—it’s a major boost for Chicago’s local economy. Each year, these shows pump millions of dollars into the city, creating jobs for local crew members, actors, and production staff.
Local businesses have also benefited from the economic impact, from caterers to equipment rental companies. In a city that has increasingly become a go-to destination for filming, One Chicago has been its crown jewel.
In fact, the success of One Chicago is comparable to that of NBC’s other long-running hit Dick Wolf franchise, Law & Order, which has been a network staple for over two decades. Just as L&O has endured, One Chicago could theoretically follow in its footsteps, as long as it delivers strong viewership and stays relevant in an ever-evolving and diminishing broadcast television landscape.
However, the 2023 Scripted Content Study released by FilmLA offers a more complex picture of Chicago’s possible future in the entertainment industry. While Illinois has seen a 66.7% increase in streaming movie releases, TV production, particularly in the broadcast sector, has declined by 40%.
This decline mirrors the national trend of viewers increasingly moving away from traditional broadcast television to streaming platforms. As One Chicago’s ratings remain robust, the question becomes: what will replace this void if the franchise eventually concludes?
If One Chicago were to go, the impact would ripple far beyond just fans missing their favorite shows. It would mean a significant loss for the local production community, which relies heavily on the steady work provided by these three series. Unlike streaming movies that can come and go quickly, One Chicago has offered year-round stability for Chicago’s entertainment workforce producing a minimum of 22 episodes each.
Our production ecosystem, which thrives on long-running series like One Chicago, would undoubtedly feel the loss. Local crews and businesses that have been sustained by these productions would have to adapt. And while Illinois has seen an increase in streaming shows such as The Chi, Dark Matter and Monster, these often come with shorter production schedules and less consistent work than a TV series that shoots multiple episodes each season.
That said, the city’s growing reputation as a desirable filming location, coupled with more competitive tax incentives, suggests that Chicago can continue to be a draw for other productions, particularly in the streaming space. The 2023 FilmLA report underscores this.
While we don’t have to worry about the One Chicago Wednesday behemoth going away this season or anytime soon, it’s not too early to begin luring more productions here, especially with more and more leaving California and going to Ontario, Atlanta, New Orleans and the UK as reported by Reel 360 News.
We are a little bit warmer than Ontario! And just as nice!
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