Rapid Insights: ‘9-1-1: Nashville’ Blends Franchise Heroics With a Soapy Southern Twist

Is the same 9-1-1 audience tuning in for this Music City spin-off? 
Definitely. We’re seeing a viewership that’s mostly women (60%) and heavily aged 35+ (94%), a near exact match for both 9-1-1 as well as its first spin-off, the Texas-set 9-1-1: Lone Star. This profile also reflects the general audience skew for the broadcast networks and lines up neatly with their other firefighter series (Fire Country, Station 19, Chicago Fire) and cop shows (NCIS, FBI, Chicago P.D., Law & Order). Additionally, the franchise connection (IP Extension, 140) is a key viewership driver for Nashville, so it’s a safe bet that fans of the original 9-1-1 make up the bulk of those tuning in.

What is 9-1-1: Nashville pulling from the successful franchise formula?
Its high-stakes rescues. Like its predecessors, this series focuses on a unit of firefighters and paramedics (Medical Professionals, 123)–in this case, the 113–who rush in when things get dangerous (Difficult Workplace, 118), and every episode highlights a series of action-packed emergencies and large-scale set pieces where the team of heroes work together (Teamwork, 112) to Save Lives (127). It also leans on the Power of Nature (115) as a compelling threat, though where the Los Angeles-set 9-1-1 leverages earthquakes and tsunamis, Nashville takes advantage of its southeast climate to bring on a different flavor of disaster (the pilot episode features a huge tornado). These repeating aspects of the franchise are driving this new series’ ratings and longevity.

What’s making 9-1-1: Nashville stand out as unique? 
Family Conflict (157). At the center of this new series is fire captain Don, his son Ryan by wife Blythe–and his surprise other son Blue by ex-girlfriend Dixie, revealed unexpectedly in the pilot. This revelation leads to considerable Family Tension (120) and many Strained Relationships (147) as Blue becomes a trainee on Don’s squad and the entire 113 crew must adjust to the new reality. Nashville is notably soapier and more deliciously melodramatic than the original 9-1-1, offering up dynastic squabbles, the juxtaposition of Wealthy vs Poor (111), and characters with juicy villainous potential. All of this character drama is what’s making the show so compulsively watchable and propelling its bingeability.

Could this show appeal to markets outside the US? 
Absolutely. Though 9-1-1: Nashville is heavily tied to the culture and style of its very American Music City setting, several of its key viewership drivers also carry strong potential internationally, especially in other English-speaking countries. The character drama, Family Tension (UK 123; AU 113; NZ 116), and Family Conflict (US 123; AU 113; NZ 124) land well in places like the UK, Australia, and New Zealand and suggest a possible avenue for Nashville to expand its audience.

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