We may still have a month left before the 2024-25 season concludes, but the Nielsen ratings are already being tallied up. The top show titles are not expected to change that much in the last few weeks of the season, and per usual, One Chicago has delivered the goods for NBC.
The network only claimed two of the top 10 spots when it came to the most-watched broadcasts during the 2024-25 season. And impressively, both of these spots were claimed by One Chicago. Chicago Fire came it at number eight, and Chicago Med pulling off an impressive year and leaping over its PD counterpart, brought up the rear at number ten.
Chicago Fire is NBC's number one broadcast drama
This is fantastic news for the franchise, given that we are all still waiting on NBC to issue renewals for all three One Chicago shows. Renewals had already been handed out by this time last year, and NBC is getting close to its Upfront presentation, in which they will unveil their schedule for the fall. They'll have to reveal, one way or another, whether One Chicago is coming back during the presentation on May 12.
Ideally, though, we will get confirmation news beforehand. Deadline did assure fans that the three One Chicago shows are "expected to return next year," along with the Law & Order shows. The only roadblock thus far is seemingly the budget. Conversations between the network and its sister studio, Universal Television, were ongoing as recently as the beginning of April, so its safe to assume that the renewals will be issued once these conversations are concluded.
The network is expected to renew all three shows
Fans have already begun to see the ways in which NBC has tried to limit One Chicago budgets, as Fire stars Daniel Kyri and Jake Lockett have been cut from the upcoming season 14 cast. It's been a huge dissappointment to lose such popular character, but it does, in a glass half full sense, confirm that the network is looking toward the future.
One Chicago's top ten placements should come as no surprise, given how consistent both shows have been all season. What is surprising, however, is the fact that CBS claimed the other eight spots on the list. Despite being the network that has drummed up the most controversy, with its decision to cancel titles like Blue Bloods, FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted, CBS managed utterly dominate thanks to smash hits like Tracker and, ironically, Blue Bloods.