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NBC may have just renewed ‘Law & Order: SVU’ and 4 other fan-favorites — here's the report

'Law & Order: SVU' has been bringing in the ratings, along with four more shows, and they could be greenlit by NBC after solid performances.

Major changes are ongoing at NBC, where the network's revised decision to place more emphasis on original scripted content holds great promise for 'Law & Order: SVU' and four other shows. The flagship dramas are poised to be renewed for a new instalment this year, albeit not without the necessary budgetary limitations. The arrival of the NBA to primetime television had previously prompted NBC to do away with six of its shows in the Fall of 2025, i.e., the dramas 'Grosse Pointe Garden Society,' 'The Irrational,' 'Found,' ' Suits L.A.', and the comedies 'Lopez vs. Lopez ' and 'Night Court'. 

The network's programming policy seems to have taken a complete U-turn this year. NBC has reportedly ordered eight new pilot episodes, including three comedies and five dramas. Fans of 'Law & Order' can finally enjoy a moment of relief since Dick Wolf's five NBC shows have a genuine chance for renewal. The 'One Chicago' trifecta, including 'Chicago P.D.,' ' Chicago Fire,' and 'Chicago Med,' along with 'Law & Order: SVU' and the 'Law & Order' renewal, has a high chance of their upcoming seasons being greenlit by the market. The return of the emphasis on scripted content would mark a period of stability for NBC's programming.

Similar to the 'One Chicago' franchise, 'Law & Order: SVU' wasn't ever destined to be on the chopping block. The procedural drama has consistently delivered strong linear ratings on NBC and the streaming platform Peacock. The show is a pillar of NBC's Thursday-night lineup and has attracted large audiences in recent years. The 'Law & Order' renewal show had previously been the subject of speculation, as it happened to be the show with the lowest ratings among the group of five shows. The show's cast was in disarray as well, with many cast members exiting. A change in this direction came in Season 25 of 'Law & Order', which saw ratings rise and line up with those of the other four shows. 

Although the five Wolf Entertainment shows will most probably be renewed, one might further speculate that they will be subject to the characteristic budget constraints that have been in place for the last few years. The idea of minimum guarantee reductions was introduced by Wolf Entertainment in 2023 as a cost-saving measure. This arrangement necessitated that prominent cast members, who have been appearing on the show for a long time, would not appear in every episode of a given season. The practice found relevance with other veteran shows as well, which were quick to adopt it themselves. 'Law & Order: SVU' is available on NBC and Peacock.