‘Law & Order’ May Leave NBC

The crime drama staple Law & Order may soon no longer be part of the NBC stable of shows offered to the U.S. audience.

The Los Angeles Times, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported Thursday that executives at TNT cable network are in negotiations with NBC Universal Television Studio to take over Law & Order this fall — if NBC decides against renewing the series for an 18th season. TNT already carries series’ reruns.

TNT, NBC Universal and the show’s executive producer all declined to comment, the Times said.

Law & Order, which is closing in on Gunsmoke as the longest-running prime-time TV drama, has lost about 20 percent of its audience this season after moving from Wednesday to Friday. Still, in reruns and overseas sales alone, it produces about $40 million a year in profits for NBC Universal, the Times said.

NBC also is mulling whether to renew the L&O spin-off Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which also has seen its audience shrink. Its other spin-off, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has been renewed for the fall.