NBC's Law & Order: CI Moving to USA

NBC is moving one of Dick Wolf's franchise shows about the NYPD to its prime cable operations at USA Network beginning with the show's 7th season in the fall, according to Bloomberg.

The announcement, which NBC and Wolf made in a teleconference today, comes a day before the major networks unveil their fall prime-time schedules during a week in television known as the upfront. Once the networks present their shows, starting with NBC tomorrow, they begin negotiations with advertisers over commercial costs.

This announcement came on the same day that NBC and Wolf agreed to bring back the flagship show "Law & Order" for its 18th season. "Law & Order", currently the longest running drama on broadcast television, has seen a slight drop in ratings, but remains within the top 35 according to Nielsen Ratings. Wolf, the Executive Producer for all three L&O dramas, including "Law & Order: SVU", had previously stated his wish to keep all three shows on the air.

The movement of Criminal Intent to first-run broadcast on USA is not mean the end of the show on NBC. Original episodes will air on the top-ranked cable network, with second-run airings appearing on NBC at a later date.

This is one of many changes to Criminal Intent over the past two seasons. Detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth) and Detective Megan Wheeler (Julianne Nicholson) were brought in as a "2nd team" to alleviate the stressful schedule upheld by series' stars Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe, portraying Detective Robert Goren and Detective Alexandra Earnes, respectively. The most recent season saw the departure of the very popular Captain James Deakins (Jamey Sheridan) and Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver (Courtney B. Vance), and the addition of new Captain Daniel Ross (Eric Bogosian).

Despite, or perhaps due to, the many changes to the show's cast, ratings have remained strong for reruns on USA, placing 1st in the 25-54 demographic, followed by sister shows, SVU on USA, and the original L&O on TNT.

Source:

Bloomberg