Universal Television Celebrates 200 Episodes of Chicago Med and over a Decade of Investment in Illinois
NBCUniversal and Universal Television celebrate the longevity of the 'One Chicago' franchise and its deep-rooted commitment to the State of Illinois.
October 13, 2025
Photo Credit: George Burns, Jr. – NBC
With the fall premieres of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med on October 1 – and as Chicago Med airs its milestone 200th episode on October 8 – the One Chicago franchise continues to be a cornerstone of NBC's primetime lineup and a driving force behind Illinois' growing reputation as a national hub for television production.
Since 2011, Universal Television and Wolf Entertainment have produced the One Chicago series in Illinois, creating a legacy extending beyond the screen – generating jobs, supporting small businesses and driving economic growth across the state. Over the past decade, these productions have:
- Employed more than 2,000 crew members statewide
- Supported over 5,000 small businesses
- Contributed nearly $2 billion to Illinois’s economy
Last season, the franchise had a significant economic impact across the state, with Chicago Med alone contributing nearly $70 million to the state's economy. Collectively, the shows spent more than $6.5 million at over 1,200 restaurants and caterers, supporting the continued growth of local restaurants and catering businesses.
In 2017, NBCUniversal launched Illinois' first entertainment workforce development initiative, CineCares Workforce Training Program, which provides opportunities for individuals to gain hands-on experience in the entertainment industry. Founded in partnership with Wolf Entertainment, the CineCares Foundation, and I.A.T.S.E. Local 476, the program was designed to help local young adults launch and build careers in film and television. The program has since become a model across the industry, offering immersive, on-set training on NBCUniversal’s hit Chicago productions. To date, 90 trainees have participated in the program, with more than half of those on the union track earning their union cards. CineCares also covers the associate fees, which often pose barriers to entry. Nine new trainees have joined the 2025 season of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med.
Universal Television continues to invest in local talent, support small businesses, and tell powerful stories rooted in the heart of Chicago. Through its workforce development initiatives and long-standing partnerships, the studio continues to open doors for Illinois-based talent and strengthen the state's role as a national leader in television production.
