With Season 8 set to conclude on March 27, 2025, and as fans await the fate of Season 9, recounting the network transition will give fans a fascinating glimpse into the ever-shifting TV landscape. What stands out most is how the entire move felt like a calculated decision by Fox that had been coming for a long time, with a beneficial contingent plan that protected its bottom line. Even in the world of law enforcement, money talks.
The '9-1-1' Franchise's Origins
9-1-1 is a hit American police procedural following an elaborate first-response team in Los Angeles. Debuting in 2018, the show features a large ensemble broken into rescue teams, including police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and radio dispatchers, and how they all collaborate with ruthless efficiency to keep the city safe. While much of the drama swirls around Sgt. Athena Grant-Nash (Angela Bassett) and her family, a vast number of characters make for a true ensemble, with storylines extending beyond work to focus on their personal lives.
This begs the question: how could moving from one network to its sibling equal cancelation? While somewhat fuzzy, the answer relates to Disney (ABC) acquiring 20th TV and 9-1-1's escalating production costs.
Why Did Fox Cancel '9-1-1'?
With up to 18 episodes per season, the cost of a single 9-1-1 season approaches $180 million, a whopping figure for any TV show regardless of ratings. Coupled with dipping ratings, Fox deemed the series too pricey to continue and, fully expecting to move it to its sister network ABC, announced that the show was canceled. This would appear to be a cynical publicity ploy until one considers that Disney acquired Fox Television in 2020, well after the business model for 9-1-1 was established. Once Fox was divorced from 20th Television, a new economic model became necessary.
While Disney decided to move 9-1-1 to its flagship network, ABC, where more emphasis was placed on TV procedurals, Lone Star remained on Fox. The franchise was split into two networks, both owned by the Disney Television Group. As Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich stated (via Deadline):
"Thanks to the creative drive of Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, as well as the talented cast, 9-1-1 has been one of the most defining and original dramas on network television over the last six seasons, and we are honored to bring it to the esteemed group of series on ABC. It’s a privilege to keep 9-1-1 in the family with 20th Television producing, and we look forward to telling more heart-racing and uplifting stories about these beloved characters on our air.”
By moving 9-1-1 to ABC, the show retains 20th Television's production team. Meanwhile, Fox retained Lone Star through its finale, allowing Disney Television Group to benefit from both. Therefore, 9-1-1's "cancelation" was more of a deliberate cost-saving rescue made once Disney acquired 20th Television. Since Fox and ABC are TV siblings, the "cancelation" is more of a lateral move. Still, there's no surprise that the latest spin-off, 9-1-1 Nashville, will remain on ABC.
