You’re scrolling through the guide on a Friday night, thumbing past the usual True Crime marathons on A&E, looking for Dan Abrams. You want that hit of adrenaline that comes from a high-speed chase in Daytona or a tense domestic call in Richland County. But here’s the thing—if you're looking for On Patrol: Live on A&E, you're going to be looking for a long time. It isn't there.
It feels weird, right? For years, A&E was the undisputed home of "Live PD," the juggernaut that basically redefined Friday and Saturday night television for millions of people. Then everything went dark in 2020. When the spiritual successor finally emerged, it didn't return to its old stomping grounds. Instead, it landed on REELZ.
People still get confused. Honestly, every single weekend, social media is flooded with viewers asking why their DVR didn't pick up the "new Live PD" or why A&E is showing "The First 48" reruns instead of live ride-alongs. The history here is messy. It involves lawsuits, corporate pivots, and a massive audience that proved loyalty to a format is stronger than loyalty to a specific cable network.
The Ghost of Live PD: Why the Breakup Happened
To understand why you won't see On Patrol: Live on A&E, you have to look at the wreckage of June 2020. At the time, "Live PD" was the number one show on cable. It was a goldmine. However, following the death of George Floyd and the subsequent global protests regarding police conduct, A&E pulled the plug. They didn't just pause it; they canceled their biggest hit overnight.
It was a reactionary move that cost the network roughly half of its total viewership within months.
There was also the controversy involving Javier Ambler II. Video footage of his death in police custody had been captured by "Live PD" crews but was later destroyed per the show’s standard data-retention policies. This created a massive legal and PR headache. By the time Dan Abrams and the production company, Big Fish Entertainment, wanted to bring the format back, the relationship with A&E was effectively severed.
A&E moved on to a more documentary-heavy slate. Big Fish took their cameras elsewhere.
Enter REELZ: The New Home for Live Police Action
In the summer of 2022, "On Patrol: Live" premiered. It looked the same. It felt the same. It had Dan Abrams sitting behind the desk, flanked by Sgt. Sean "Sticks" Larkin and Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson. But the logo in the corner said REELZ, not A&E.
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This created a massive technical hurdle for the "OP Nation" fanbase. REELZ is an independent network. It isn't always included in basic cable tiers. While A&E is a staple on almost every satellite and cable package in America, REELZ required people to actually go out and find it.
The move was a gamble. It paid off. REELZ saw their ratings skyrocket by nearly 300% during the Friday and Saturday night windows. It turns out, viewers didn't care about the channel name as much as they cared about the content. They wanted the transparency—or the "ride-along from the couch" experience—that the show provides.
The Lawsuit That Nearly Stopped Everything
You might wonder why they changed the name. Why not just call it Live PD?
Well, A&E didn't take the move to REELZ lying down. They actually sued Big Fish Entertainment and MGM (which owns Big Fish). The lawsuit claimed that On Patrol: Live was a "transparent clone" of "Live PD" and that it violated their intellectual property rights.
A&E's argument was basically: "We paid to develop this format, and you can't just take it to a competitor."
The legal battle was intense. It touched on everything from the specific "look" of the graphics to the way the hosts interacted. Eventually, the courts allowed the show to continue, but the branding had to remain distinct. This is why we have "Citizen Ride-Alongs" and "Learning Phases" now. Same concept, different vocabulary.
Where Can You Actually Watch It Today?
Since you can't get On Patrol: Live on A&E, you need to know the specific entry points for the current show. It’s a bit fragmented, which is annoying, but manageable.
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- Peacock: This is the big one. Since REELZ doesn't have its own massive standalone streaming app for live TV, they partnered with Peacock. If you have a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscription, you can stream the REELZ channel live.
- Sling TV / Philo / Fubo: These "skinny" cable alternatives all offer REELZ, usually as part of a small add-on package or their basic entertainment tiers.
- DirectTV and Dish: They carry REELZ on specific channel numbers (usually 238 for DirectTV and 299 for Dish), but you might need to check your specific package level.
If you try to find it on Hulu + Live TV, you’re out of luck. As of right now, REELZ isn't on Hulu's live lineup. It’s one of those weird carriage disputes that leaves fans frustrated every weekend.
The Evolution of the Format: Is It Different?
Honestly? Not really. But also, yes.
The core of the show remains eight departments across the country, filming live over three hours. They still use the "double box" to show a pursuit and a traffic stop simultaneously.
But there’s a different vibe now. The show puts a much heavier emphasis on the "Citizen Ride-Along" segments where a civilian sits in the car. There is also a more concerted effort to follow up on cases. One of the biggest criticisms of the old A&E days was that viewers would see an arrest but never know what happened next. Now, they do "updates" frequently to show the legal outcomes or the recovery of missing children.
The technology has improved too. The 4G and 5G bonded cellular tech they use for the cameras is more stable than it was in 2016. You get fewer "lost signal" screens and more high-definition footage of foot chases through woods in South Carolina.
Why the Confusion Persists
Search engines are partially to blame. If you type in "live police show," Google still associates those terms heavily with A&E because of the years of SEO dominance "Live PD" had.
Additionally, A&E continues to air "Police 24/7" and "Customer Wars," which use similar camera styles. It’s easy to see a "thin blue line" aesthetic on the A&E guide and assume the flagship show is back. But it’s a bit like buying "Hydrox" when you wanted "Oreo." It looks similar, but the flavor is off.
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The fans—the "OP Nation"—are incredibly active on X (formerly Twitter). If you ever want to know if the show is live or if it's a "best of" episode, just check the hashtag #OnPatrolLive. You’ll know within seconds. The community acts as a sort of decentralized TV guide for everyone who is still trying to figure out where the show went.
The Future of Live Police Broadcasting
Will the show ever go back to A&E? It’s highly unlikely. The bridge hasn't just been burned; the debris has been cleared away. REELZ has staked its entire brand identity on being the home of On Patrol: Live.
There is also the matter of the "Live PD" trademarks. As long as A&E owns that specific name, and as long as the legal bad blood exists, the show will remain in its current form on its current network.
We are also seeing a shift in how these shows are produced. There is more "pre-taped" content mixed into the "live" show than there used to be. This is partly for safety and partly to ensure there is never a "dead air" moment where nothing is happening across all eight departments. Some purists hate this. They want 100% live, even if it's just a cop filling up a gas tank. But for most viewers, the mix of "Earlier in Berkeley County" and "Live in Toledo" is the perfect balance.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Viewing Experience
If you’re ready to stop looking for On Patrol: Live on A&E and actually start watching, here is the move:
- Check the Schedule: The show airs Friday and Saturday nights from 9 PM to 12 AM Eastern.
- The First Shift: Don't miss the 30-minute lead-in called "First Shift." It starts at 8:30 PM Eastern and provides context for the night’s departments and updates on previous calls.
- Sync Your Socials: Follow the official @OnPatrolLive accounts. They post clips of the "big" moments almost instantly, which is great if you're a "two-screen" viewer.
- Stop Searching A&E: Seriously. Delete the old DVR timers. They are just taking up space.
To get set up for next weekend, your best bet is to grab a Peacock subscription or check if your cable provider offers REELZ as a $5 add-on. It’s a small price to pay for 12 hours of live action every month. The show has survived a cancellation, a relocation, and a massive lawsuit. It isn't going anywhere; it just moved to a different neighborhood.
Next Steps for the Viewer:
- Verify if your current cable or streaming provider carries REELZ; if not, consider a Peacock Premium trial.
- Update your DVR keywords from "Live PD" or "Police" to specifically "On Patrol: Live" to ensure you catch the new episodes.
- Join the "OP Nation" community on social media to stay informed about "Bye weeks" or schedule changes that often happen during holiday weekends.