NBC renews all three series for 2006-07

LOS ANGELES -- The three "Law & Order" series currently on NBC have, as of this week, accounted for more than 630 episodes of television over the years. And now you can add 60-plus more hours next season.

NBC has renewed all three members of the "Law & Order" franchise -- the mothership, "SVU" and "Criminal Intent" -- for the 2006-07 season. The pickups hardly come as a surprise, as the three shows have been reliable ratings draws for the scuffling network.

"Since 'Law & Order's' inception 16 years ago, these well-crafted series have come to define quality dramatic television," NBC Entertainment chief Kevin Reilly says. "All of us at NBC are grateful to [creator] Dick Wolf and his amazing team for producing these extraordinary shows, and we're glad they'll be back again next season."

Wolf, meanwhile, says he's "thrilled that we are continuing to do what this remarkable team has done so successfully for the past 16 years -- create episodes that excite, educate, disturb and sometimes, even infuriate our audiences."

"SVU" is having the best season of the three shows this year, averaging a shade under 14 million viewers per week. The original draws 11.14 million people, and "Criminal Intent" brings in 10.93 million airing opposite "Desperate Housewives" and, lately, "The Sopranos" on Sunday night.

Next season will be the 17th for "Law & Order," which is far and away the longest-running drama currently on TV. (Another NBC show, "ER," is next in line with 12 seasons under its belt.) A full complement of episodes next season will bring the show close to the 400-episode mark.

"SVU" and "Criminal Intent" will enter their eighth and sixth seasons in the fall.