Is Chicago PD In Trouble After Season 10?

Most hit television shows, whether on network TV or premium cable, tend to last about 7 or 8 seasons if everything goes according to plan. After that, the show tends to decline in quality and in public interest, as contracts start expiring and longtime cast members and writers outright leave the production. Some shows, like "The Simpsons" and "Law & Order: SVU," have run decades past all expectations, in part because they remain profitable (The Hollywood Reporter). But often, cast members and writers will decide to move on after close to 10 years of working on a single project.

The "Chicago" television franchise is still a consistent ratings machine for NBC (via Cinemablend). But even the youngest show of the bunch, "Chicago Med," is premiering its eighth season on the air in September 2022, and the network is making some changes that may affect these dramas. Here's how NBC's business might affect "Chicago PD" once the show airs the 10th season.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, NBC is deciding whether or not it will cut costs by selling its one-hour 10 p.m. time slot back to affiliate stations. The 2022-23 television schedule is already set, so this likely wouldn't happen until later in 2023. But if the network decides to pull back on scheduling, then multiple shows would have to change their time slots. This includes late-night programming like "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," as well as NBC's drama lineup.

The news means that the blocked programming of the "Chicago" shows on Wednesday night would be broken up as well, changing the premiere time and date for each series.

Historically, time changes can wreak havoc on ratings (via Vox), and even if streaming has made watching new episodes a lot easier, rescheduling a long-running series can often cause viewers to abandon ship. Time will tell if NBC will even decide to turn over the 10 p.m. timeslot, but it's certainly not the best news fans could receive about the veteran "Chicago" shows.