First Responders Live ratings: Dick Wolf’s new show struggles in debut

First Responders Live didn’t generate huge ratings for its premiere, so what’s the future hold for Dick Wolf’s new reality series?

First Responders Live struggled to attract a live audience for its series premiere. The FOX reality series, produced by Dick Wolf, had 2.11 million people watching live on Wednesday.

That ranked it ninth among the 11 programs that aired on broadcast TV that evening.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, the series had a 0.5 share, which was enough to get it higher in that category; there, it was ranked seventh out of 11.

That almost certainly wasn’t what FOX was hoping for when it ordered the reality show, which is following police, firefighters and paramedics in select cities around the country.

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However, there are some caveats to be had. The network had no idea that the premiere would be airing opposite the pivotal Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals; the hockey game on NBC dominated the night, with 8.25 million watching live to see the St. Louis Blues win their first title.

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Also, some people may have been turned off by the reveal at the top of the show that a large part of the program wasn’t actually live. A disclaimer stated that “some portions” were pre-recorded, and social media further claimed that the only thing live was the studio commentary.

To that end, its direct competitor Live PD on A&E also made the move to air a brand-new episode directly opposite First Responders Live, and almost certainly took a large amount of its potential viewers.

And lastly, the lead-in for the new show was a new episode of MasterChef, and people watching a cooking competition aren’t the most compatible audience.

Dick Wolf enthusiasts will have to keep an eye on the show next week, when it’s not competing against live sports. The ratings may go up then, especially if it’s not also going head-to-head with the more established live police series. These numbers are far from ideal, but one also has to be aware of the circumstances they were recorded under.

To compare, the One Chicago series normally get somewhere between 6-8 million people live each week, and Law & Order: SVU is usually between 4-5 million.

Another new First Responders Live episode airs June 19 at 9 p.m. (live only on the East Coast; tape delayed elsewhere). If you missed the first episode, you can watch a clip below.

For the latest First Responders Live spoilers and news, plus more on all of Dick Wolf’s other series, follow the Dick Wolf category at One Chicago Center.