NBC Bets on Late-Season Football Crowd to Launch Rockford Files Remake
The series debuts January 2 after a Saturday night NFL game before moving to its regular Thursday slot.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
NBC will air the premiere of its Rockford Files remake on January 2 at 8 p.m. ET, a slot that follows a late afternoon NFL game. The network selected the Saturday debut to capture the large audience watching professional football before the series shifts to its standard broadcast time.
The new version of the private eye drama is based on the original series that aired from 1974 to 1980. James Garner starred in the first iteration, while David Boreanaz portrays Jim Rockford in the current update. Michaela McManus, Ilfenesh Hadera, and Jacki Weaver round out the main cast.
The show will move to Thursdays at 8 p.m. beginning January 7. This change places the series in the time slot currently held by The Traitors: New Blood. The network expects the football audience to provide a strong start for the program before it settles into its weekly routine.
NBC released a short advertisement that features Boreanaz asking viewers to call a specific phone number. The number, (760) JIM-ROCK, is active. Callers hear a voicemail message where Rockford says he is back and ready to roll. This approach mirrors the opening sequence of the original show, which used an answering machine to introduce the protagonist.
The modern version of the phone number includes an option for callers to opt in for text messages about the show. Writer Mike Daniels serves as an executive producer for the project. He works alongside Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman, and David Hudgins. Universal Television is the production studio behind the series.
The premiere date marks the start of the new season for the franchise. The scheduling strategy relies on the established viewership of professional football to introduce the new cast and storylines to a wide audience.
