M-Net continues "One Chicago" franchise with Tuesday night marathons of Fire, Med and P.D.

by Thinus Ferreira

Despite the writers and actors strike in Hollywood M-Net (DStv 101) is able to continue its trifecta Chicago TV franchise known as "One Chicago" and will show season 11 of Chicago Fire, season 8 of Chicago Med and season 10 of Chicago P.D. on Tuesdays from tonight.

While the new seasons of multiple American procedural shows - like the various Chicago series - for the new season starting in late 2023 will be delayed severely, the "One Chicago" series are not "Express from the US" shows on M-Net, with three complete and cross-aligned seasons available for M-Net to broadcast.

Season 11 of Chicago Fire will start tonight at 19:00 on M-Net (DStv 101), followed by season 8 of Chicago Med at 20:00, and then season 10 of Chicago P.D. at 21:00. 

These three shows will continue to have new episodes on Tuesdays on M-Net as part of a Tuesday night "One Chicago marathon". 

While it's not a crossover episode, tonight's 8th season premiere of Chicago Med features a dazzling array of cameos from Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., as well as the shocking return of some characters and the departure of others.

New mega-renewal deal for Dick Wolf's trio of Chicago series as well as Law & Order: SVU with all 4 series renewed for 3 seasons each.

by Thinus Ferreira

Universal Television has signed a new mega-deal with the American producer Dick Wolf that sees all three of the Chicago procedural series each getting renewed for a further three seasons, while the longrunning Law & Order: SVU also gets renewed for a further 3 seasons.

The massive renewal will see Chicago Fire continue at least until season 11, Chicago P.D. continue until season 10 and Chicago Med continue at least until season 8 with all three series broadcast on M-Net (DStv 101) in South Africa and throughout sub-Saharan Africa on DStv.

Meanwhile Law & Order: SVU with Mariska Hargitay, seen on Universal TV (DStv 117) and SABC3, is already America's longest-running drama series and will now continue until at least season 24 on the NBC network in America.

"Dick Wolf has proven time and time again that he makes shows audiences love," says Paul Telegdy, NBC Entertainment chairperson in a statement announcing the 3-year renewals for all four series.

"We are delighted, excited and proud that as part of this epic deal with Wolf Entertainment, our loyal audience will know that their favourite shows have a certain future for the next three years."

Bonnie Hammer, NBCUniversal Content Studios chairperson, says "I've thoroughly enjoyed working with Dick over the decades and it goes without saying he remains one of the most influential producers in history. He is a visionary unlike any other whose impact has changed the entire television landscape. We're beyond thrilled to have Dick and his team remain in the NBCUniversal family for many years to come".

Pearlena Igbokwe, Universal Television president, says "The significance of having Dick Wolf remain at Universal Television can't be overstated. Dick has proven himself masterful at building successful, iconic brands and telling gripping, intelligent and thought-provoking stories. It’s an honour and pleasure to be a part of the Wolf Pack for the next five years".

Dick Wolf says "I'm gratified and excited that Universal will remain our home" and that "We are now supercharged to expand our business on new platforms, both domestically and internationally, while continuing to produce our current and future series for broadcasting and streaming networks."

M-Net switches the broadcasting times of Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. for next Tuesday, 2 July, to make the 'One Chicago' 3-way crossover event play out perfectly.

M-Net (DStv 101) tells me it's switching the linear broadcasting order of the episodes of the brand-new seasons of Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med around next Tuesday, 2 July for one week, in order to have the "One Chicago" 3-way crossover between the various Chicago drama series play out chronologically in the correct order.

TVwithThinus reported yesterday that M-Net finally fixed the scheduling of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med by having the new seasons of all three American drama series start on the same night on the channel.

With a big 3-episode crossover involving all three seasons during the second episode of all three seasons, the Chicago series now perfectly align in order for viewers to see it happen correctly as characters from each of the series appear in both of the other series.

During next week's "One Chicago" crossover event, a highrise fire requires the help of the firefighters, paramedics and doctors, as well as the police.

While M-Net beautifully fixed the biggest problem by having all three Chicago series broadcast at the same time, a little problem remained: the "One Chicago" crossover should play out starting with the fire (Chicago Fire), people going to hospital (Chicago Med) and the police solving the case and finding the person who escapes from hospital (Chicago P.D).

M-Net has however scheduled the series to be broadcast weekly in the order of the 7th season of Chicago Fire (19:00), Chicago P.D. (20:00), Chicago Med (21:00).

Just for next week, 2 July, Chicago Med will start at 20:00, followed by Chicago P.D. (21:00).

Another Chicago crossover will happen with the 15th episode of Chicago Fire later in this season, continuing in the 15th episode of Chicago Med where no episode switching on M-Net is necessary since Chicago Fire is airing before Chicago Med anyway.

M-Net says that for 2 July it is switching Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. in order to accommodate the crossover broadcast and that the change is already reflecting on MultiChoice's DStv electronic programme guide (EPG) as well.