9-1-1 season 7 has been canceled by Fox, but it’s been saved by another network. The spinoff, 9-1-1: Lone Star, is safe. Considering that the characters on 9-1-1 are very much in the middle of ongoing storylines, such as Buck untangling and reassessing his romances, it seemed unlikely that the firefighter show would come to an abrupt end. But now, along with confirmation about its future, there’s an explanation for why the renewal has taken so long.
The Hollywood Reporter confirms that 9-1-1 season 7 will happen. Even though the procedural drama has been canceled by Fox, ABC will be the new home for the series and it will air the upcoming seventh installment. As for the 9-1-1: Lone Star spinoff, it’s been renewed for season 5 and will continue to air on Fox.
Why 9-1-1 Is Moving To ABC (But Lone Star Isn’t)
Disney’s 20th Television owns both 9-1-1 and its Lone Star spinoff. That factored into Fox’s decision to cancel 9-1-1. The network used to own the series prior to selling its television studio. Since then, it has been looking for ways to decrease its expenses. As it stands, Fox has to pay a licensing fee in order to air both the original 9-1-1 and the spinoff.
THR notes that with broadcast ratings continuing to slide overall, Fox made the decision to part ways with 9-1-1 while keeping the spinoff. Even though 9-1-1 ranks as the top broadcast drama in the advertiser-focused 18-49 demographic, Fox paid more than $9 million per episode to air it. By contrast, Lone Star costs less. According to sources, the spinoff comes in at $6-$7 million per episode.
As has been the case with the 9-1-1 franchise in recent years, the delayed renewal ultimately comes down to financials. But with this decision, it’s confirmed that audiences will at least enjoy another season of an ensemble that includes Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Oliver Stark, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Guzman, Aisha Hinds, and Kenneth Choi. And down the road, perhaps the spinoff will also get to make the move.
Source: THR
