"On Patrol: Live" Renewed for Two More Seasons on Reelz

Los Angeles, CA - January 25, 2023 - Reelz has ordered another two seasons of its hit live police series, "On Patrol: Live," ensuring the show's presence on Friday and Saturday nights until the start of 2026. The deal includes 90 new episodes of the series and 90 additional episodes of its spin-off, "On Patrol: First Shift."

"On Patrol: Live" airs live on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to Midnight ET, while "On Patrol: First Shift" airs at 8 p.m. ET. Both shows are available to stream live or on demand on Peacock.

Since its launch in July 2022, "On Patrol: Live" has significantly boosted Reelz's ratings, with viewership increasing by 107% in 2022 and 34% in 2023. The network's overall audience has also grown substantially, making it a top 40 rated cabler.

"It's a tremendous amount of programming," said Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard. "But it's working for us, at a time when cable networks are generally under a lot of pressure. It's a source of pride... we're all about 'On Patrol: Live' now, that's what this network is."

Host and executive producer Dan Abrams expressed his enthusiasm for the show's continued success. "I am hopeful and optimistic that there's no real end in sight for this show," said Abrams. "I think it's a good show from a TV perspective, but I also think it's an important one for people to get a little glimpse at what law enforcement does every day."

The renewal follows the settlement of a copyright lawsuit filed by A+E Networks against Reelz and Big Fish Entertainment over the show. Big Fish had produced "Live PD" for A&E, which was canceled in 2020. Big Fish revived the live police format on Reelz under the title "On Patrol: Live," prompting A+E to file a lawsuit. The lawsuit was settled in November, allowing "On Patrol: Live" to continue airing on Reelz.

"It was a distraction, that distraction's behind us," said Hubbard. "I don't think you'll see the show look any different."

Abrams added, "I think that everyone on both sides of this is is relieved that that's behind us... I don't think, as a practical matter, it's going to have a huge impact on on the show itself."

As "On Patrol: Live" returns for its new season on January 31, the show has added the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to its list of partnered law enforcement agencies. Captain Tom Rizzo of the Howell Township Police Dept. has also joined as a full-time analyst.

"Before this kind of show, the only real view that folks had in the law enforcement was either in the purely entertainment space, or something like 'Cops,' which is highlighted moments of policing," said Abrams. "And it doesn't really give you the true sense of what it's like to be a police officer. What this show provides is it allows you to see as the officer gets the call, as they respond to the call, and in many cases, as they approach a vehicle without knowing exactly who's in the vehicle."

Abrams emphasized the complexity of the broadcast, which involves 50 cameras across the country following law enforcement. "I've worked on a lot of of shows," he said. "I've never worked on a show that is as complex as as this one."