First Responders Live hits a new ratings high for Dick Wolf

First Responders Live scored a major victory this week for FOX, posting the biggest ratings ever for Dick Wolf’s reality series.

There might be hope for First Responders Live yet, because Dick Wolf‘s newest project had a huge ratings improvement when it returned to the air this week.

The FOX reality series was watched by 2.36 million people on Wednesday, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is when compared to its previous audiences.

Its last new episode, which aired on June 26, only pulled in 1.8 million people and was one of the least-watched broadcast TV shows that night. So the series gained about a half million audience members in its return.

It also posted higher numbers than even had with its heavily promoted first episode. The series premiere drew 2.11 million live viewers.

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By comparison, this week’s episode was ranked seventh out of 11 shows in total viewers, and had a 0.6 share among adults 18-49, which was tied for sixth place in that crucial demographic.

What changed to swing the numbers in FOX’s favor? There are a lot of low-rated shows airing on Wednesdays at the moment, including directly opposite the Dick Wolf show. NBC had Songland in the 9 p.m slot, which had just over 2 million eyeballs. The songwriting competition has likewise failed to be a smash hit.

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First Responders Live was still handily beaten by Big Brother on CBS, though, which was the only program to pass the 4 million viewers mark.

So while it’s unlikely that the true-crime series is going to become a ratings sensation, there’s not a lot of competition for it this month. And less alternatives will bring more viewers over to seeing what’s happening with firefighters, police, paramedics and Josh Elliott.

If the highest-rated show on the night is bringing in just over 4 million, that’s a big difference from a week during the fall season, where the top shows are doing closer to 7-9 million.

But that could all work to help Dick Wolf fans. While this show has yet to make a huge splash, any ratings gain is good ratings gain, and if it can continue to bring in a decent audience it might have a chance.

FOX has also announced when the show is going to end its season. The First Responders Live finale is scheduled for Wednesday, July 31 at 9 p.m. ET/PT; the show has yet to be renewed for a second season.

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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.

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