Last year, ratings for the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit TV show on NBC only dropped a little in the demo, and the show actual increased its average total viewership. Thanks to that solid performance, it was a top-five show in both measures and kicks off its 20th season from an enviable position. Now the longest-running primetime drama on television, the series is on its fourth show-runner and seems like it could go on forever. The question at hand may not be: will Law & Order: SVU be cancelled or renewed for season 21, but rather when will they decide to end it? Whenever that is, the ratings will surely be considered in making the decision, so stay tuned. *Status update below.
An NBC legal drama, Law & Order: SVU stars Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, and Philip Winchester. The police procedural centers on Lt. Olivia Benson (Hargitay) and her elite squad of New York City Police Department detectives who investigate crimes including sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence.
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly in the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — usually the next day, around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.
5/17 update: You can see the latest night’s ratings in context.
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For comparisons: The 19th season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit averaged a 1.25 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 5.945 million viewers (live + same day ratings).
Note: These are the Live + Same Day Ratings which include “live” viewing plus delayed DVR viewing, up until 3am local time that same night. Ratings marked with an “*” are the fast affiliate ratings and will be updated with the Live+SD numbers when they are made available. Typically, networks get paid for C+3 ratings which includes DVR viewing within three days of the original airing when commercials are watched. Those numbers are rarely released to the press.
What do you think? Do you still like the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit TV series? Should it be cancelled or renewed for a 21st season on NBC?
*3/29/19 update: NBC has renewed Law & Order: SVU for a historic 21st season.
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