Editing Law & Order (section)

==Broadcast history==

=== Broadcast ===
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2023}}
The show premiered September 13, 1990, and ended its first run on May 24, 2010. 456 episodes were aired and produced. The show ran for twenty seasons on NBC. At this time, it was NBC's longest running crime drama, and tied for longest running primetime scripted drama with ''Gunsmoke''. The first two seasons were broadcast Tuesdays at 10 p.m. From season 3 through 16 the show aired Wednesday at 10 p.m. For season 17 it moved to Fridays at 10 p.m. For seasons 18 and 19 the show shifted back to Wednesdays at 10 p.m. For season 20 the show was broadcast Fridays at 8 p.m., while in the spring it moved to Mondays at 10 p.m., where it broadcast its initial series finale on May 24, 2010. The revival (season 21–present) now airs as part of NBC's 'Law & Order Thursday' lineup broadcasting Thursdays at 8 p.m. since February 24, 2022.

{{Television season ratings
| hide_18_49_rating = y
| hide_18_49_rank   = y

| link1         = Law & Order season 1
| timeslot1     = Tuesday 10:00 p.m.
| timeslot_length1 = 2
| episodes1     = 22
| start1        = {{Start date|1990|9|13}}
| startrating1  = 14.00
| end1          = {{End date|1991|6|9}}
| endrating1    = 12.2
| season1       = 1990–91
| rank1         = 33
| viewers1      = 12.2
| 18_49_rank1   = 46
| 18_49_rating1 = 12.1

| link2         = Law & Order season 2
| episodes2     = 22
| start2        = {{Start date|1991|9|17}}
| startrating2  = 16.4
| end2          = {{End date|1992|5|12}}
| endrating2    = 12.1
| season2       = 1991–92
| rank2         = 46
| viewers2      = 12.1
| 18_49_rank2   = 46
| 18_49_rating2 = 12.3

| link3         = Law & Order season 3
| timeslot3     = Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| timeslot_length3 = 14
| episodes3     = 22
| start3        = {{Start date|1992|9|23}}
| startrating3  = 14.90
| end3          = {{End date|1993|5|19}}
| endrating3    = 15.4
| season3       = 1992–93
| rank3         = 56
| viewers3      = 12.1
| 18_49_rank3   = 56
| 18_49_rating3 = 10.2

| link4         = Law & Order season 4
| episodes4     = 22
| start4        = {{Start date|1993|9|15}}
| startrating4  = 13.6
| end4          = {{End date|1994|5|25}}
| endrating4    = 15.4
| season4       = 1993–94
| rank4         = 38
| viewers4      = 15.3
| 18_49_rank4   = 38
| 18_49_rating4 = 11.9

| link5         = Law & Order season 5
| episodes5     = 23
| start5        = {{Start date|1994|9|21}}
| startrating5  = 18.3
| end5          = {{End date|1995|5|24}}
| endrating5    = 13.4
| season5       = 1994–95
| rank5         = 27
| viewers5      = 15.3
| 18_49_rank5   = 27
| 18_49_rating5 = 11.6

| link6         = Law & Order season 6
| episodes6     = 23
| start6        = {{Start date|1995|9|20}}
| startrating6  = 17.3
| end6          = {{End date|1996|5|22}}
| endrating6    = 15.0
| season6       = 1995–96
| rank6         = 24
| viewers6      = 15.3
| 18_49_rank6   = 24
| 18_49_rating6 = 10.9

| link7         = Law & Order season 7
| episodes7     = 23
| start7        = {{Start date|1996|9|18}}
| startrating7  = 15.7
| end7          = {{End date|1997|5|21}}
| endrating7    = 14.9
| season7       = 1996–97
| rank7         = 27
| viewers7      = 15
| 18_49_rank7   = 27
| 18_49_rating7 = 10.5

| link8         = Law & Order season 8
| episodes8     = 24
| start8        = {{Start date|1997|9|24}}
| startrating8  = 17.58
| end8          = {{End date|1998|5|20}}
| endrating8    = 14.8
| season8       = 1997–98
| rank8         = 24
| viewers8      = 14.1
| 18_49_rank8   = 24
| 18_49_rating8 = 14.1

| link9         = Law & Order season 9
| episodes9     = 24
| start9        = {{Start date|1998|9|23}}
| startrating9  = 15.6
| end9          = {{End date|1999|5|26}}
| endrating9    = 19.28
| season9       = 1998–99
| rank9         = 20
| viewers9      = 13.8
| 18_49_rank9   = 20
| 18_49_rating9 = 13.8

| link10        = Law & Order season 10
| episodes10    = 24
| start10       = {{Start date|1999|9|22}}
| startrating10 = 18.0
| end10         = {{End date|2000|5|24}}
| endrating10    = 19.48
| season10       = 1999–2000
| rank10         = 13
| viewers10      = 19.48
| 18_49_rank10   = 13
| 18_49_rating10 = 16.3

| link11         = Law & Order season 11
| episodes11     = 24
| start11        = {{Start date|2000|10|18}}
| startrating11  = 17.8
| end11          = {{End date|2001|5|23}}
| endrating11    = 20.0
| season11       = 2000–01
| rank11         = 27
| viewers11      = 17.7
| 18_49_rank11   = 11
| 18_49_rating11 = 17.7

| link12         = Law & Order season 12
| episodes12     = 24
| start12        = {{Start date|2001|9|26}}
| startrating12  = 17.8
| end12          = {{End date|2002|5|22}}
| endrating12    = 20.7
| season12       = 2001–02
| rank12         = 7
| viewers12      = 19.5
| 18_49_rank12   = 11
| 18_49_rating12 = 18.7

| link13         = Law & Order season 13
| episodes13     = 24
| start13        = {{Start date|2002|10|2}}
| startrating13  = 19.1
| end13          = {{End date|2003|5|21}}
| endrating13    = 19.0
| season13       = 2002–03
| rank13         = 10
| viewers13      = 17.3
| 18_49_rank13   = 10
| 18_49_rating13 = 17.3

| link14         = Law & Order season 14
| episodes14     = 24
| start14        = {{Start date|2003|9|24}}
| startrating14  = 20.9
| end14          = {{End date|2004|5|19}}
| endrating14    = 19.5
| season14       = 2003–04
| rank14         = 14
| viewers14      = 15.9
| 18_49_rank14   = 14
| 18_49_rating14 = 15.9

| link15         = Law & Order season 15
| episodes15     = 24
| start15        = {{Start date|2004|9|22}}
| startrating15  = 18.86
| end15          = {{End date|2005|5|18}}
| endrating15    = 19.0
| season15       = 2004–05
| rank15         = 25
| viewers15      = 13.0
| 18_49_rank15   = 25
| 18_49_rating15 = 13.0

| link16         = Law & Order season 16
| episodes16     = 22
| start16        = {{Start date|2005|9|21}}
| startrating16 = 13.0
| end16          = {{End date|2006|5|17}}
| endrating16    = 13.5
| season16       = 2005–06
| rank16         = 35
| viewers16      = 11.2
| 18_49_rank16   = 35
| 18_49_rating16 = 11.2

| link17         = Law & Order season 17
| timeslot17     = Friday 10:00 p.m.
| episodes17     = 22
| start17        = {{Start date|2006|9|22}}
| startrating17  = 11.0
| end17          = {{End date|2007|5|18}}
| endrating17    = 9.23
| season17       = 2006–07
| rank17         = 54
| viewers17      = 9.4
| 18_49_rank17   = 54
| 18_49_rating17 = 9.4

| link18         = Law & Order season 18
| timeslot18     = Wednesday 10:00 p.m.
| timeslot_length18 = 2
| episodes18     = 18
| start18        = {{Start date|2008|1|2}}
| startrating18  = 13.45
| end18          = {{End date|2008|5|21}}
| endrating18    = 8.45
| season18       = 2007–08
| rank18         = 38
| viewers18      = 9.7
| 18_49_rank18   = 46
| 18_49_rating18 = 9.7

| link19         = Law & Order season 19
| episodes19     = 22
| start19        = {{Start date|2008|11|5}}
| startrating19  = 7.85
| end19          = {{End date|2009|6|3}}
| endrating19    = 8.79
| season19       = 2008–09
| rank19         = 62
| viewers19      = 8.2
| 18_49_rank19   = 62
| 18_49_rating19 = 8.2

| link20         = Law & Order season 20
| timeslot20     = Friday 8:00 p.m. <small>(eps 1–12)</small><br /> Monday 10:00 p.m. <small>(eps 13–23)</small>
| episodes20     = 23
| start20        = {{Start date|2009|9|25}}
| startrating20  = 6.29
| end20          = {{End date|2010|5|24}}
| endrating20    = 7.6
| season20       = 2009–10
| rank20         = 60
| viewers20      = 8.2
| 18_49_rank20   = 60
| 18_49_rating20 = 7.2

| link21         = Law & Order season 21
| timeslot21     = Thursday 8:00 p.m.<ref name="TFC">{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Shows A-Z – Law & Order on NBC|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/law-and-order/listings/|website=[[The Futon Critic]]|access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref>
| timeslot_length21 = 4
| episodes21     = 10
| start21        = {{Start date|2022|2|24}}
| startrating21  = 5.80<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-2-24-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 2.24.2022|first=Mitch|last=Metcalf|publisher=Showbuzz Daily|date=February 25, 2022|accessdate=February 28, 2022|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228183818/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-2-24-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| end21          = {{End date|2022|5|19}}
| endrating21    = 3.94<ref name="21.10">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-5-19-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=ShowBuzzDaily's Thursday 5.19.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|date=May 20, 2022|work=Showbuzz Daily|access-date=May 22, 2022|archive-date=May 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531013546/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-5-19-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| season21       = 2021–22
| rank21         = 39
| viewers21      = 5.92<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-22-tv-ratings-every-network-series-ranked-1235161738/ | title=2021-22 TV Ratings: Final Seven-Day Numbers for Every Network Series | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=June 9, 2022 | access-date=October 28, 2022 | archive-date=June 9, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609001940/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-22-tv-ratings-every-network-series-ranked-1235161738/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
| 18_49_rank21   = 
| 18_49_rating21 =

| link22         = Law & Order season 22
| episodes22     = 22
| start22        = {{Start date|2022|9|22}}
| startrating22  = 4.69<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-9-22-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Thursday 9.22.2022|first=Mitch|last=Metcalf|publisher=Showbuzz Daily|date=September 23, 2022|accessdate=September 23, 2022|archive-date=September 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925183659/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-9-22-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| end22          = {{End date|2023|5|18}}
| endrating22    = 3.96<ref name="22.22">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-5-18-2023-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=ShowBuzzDaily's Thursday 5.18.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated|work=Showbuzz Daily|last=Salem|first=Mitch|date=May 19, 2023|access-date=May 19, 2023}}</ref>
| season22       = 2022–23
| rank22         = 34
| viewers22      = 5.88<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-2022-23-every-primetime-network-show-ranked-1235508593/ | title=TV Ratings 2022-23: Final Seven-Day Averages for Every Network Series | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=June 7, 2023 }}</ref>
| 18_49_rank22   = 
| 18_49_rating22 =

| link23         = Law & Order season 23
| episodes23     = 13
| start23        = {{Start date|2024|1|18}}
| startrating23  = 5.32<ref name="23.01">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-nbc-prevails-with-the-return-of-its-law-order-trio/|title=Thursday Ratings: NBC Prevails With the Return of its Law & Order Trio|work=Programming Insider|first=Douglas|last=Pucci|date=January 19, 2024|access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref>
| end23          = {{End date|2024|5|16}}
| endrating23    = 3.68<ref name="23.13">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-young-sheldon-on-cbs-reaches-four-year-high-with-series-finale/|title=Thursday Ratings: 'Young Sheldon' on CBS Reaches Four-Year High with Series Finale|work=Programming Insider|first=Douglas|last=Pucci|date=May 17, 2024|access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref>
| season23       = 2023–24
| rank23         = 34
| viewers23      = 5.75<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Porter |first=Rick |date=2024-06-11 |title=TV Ratings 2023-24: Final Numbers for (Almost) Every Network Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tv-ratings-2023-24-primetime-network-show-rankings-1235919819/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
| 18_49_rank23   = 
| 18_49_rating23 =

| link24         = Law & Order season 24
| episodes24     = 22
| start24        = {{Start date|2024|10|3}}
| startrating24  = 3.64<ref name="24.01">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-abc-edges-past-nbcs-lineup-of-season-premieres/|title=Thursday Ratings: ABC Edges Past NBC's Lineup of Season Premieres|work=Programming Insider|first=Douglas|last=Pucci|date=October 4, 2024|access-date=October 4, 2024}}</ref>
| end24          = {{End date|2025|5|15}}
| endrating24    = 3.67<ref name="24.22">{{cite web|url=https://programminginsider.com/thursday-ratings-georgie-mandys-first-marriage-on-cbs-rises-in-season-finale/|title=Thursday Ratings: ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ on CBS Rises in Season Finale|work=Programming Insider|last=Pucci|first=Douglas|date=May 16, 2025|access-date=May 16, 2025}}</ref>
| season24       = 2024–25
| rank24         = 
| viewers24      = 
| 18_49_rank24   = 
| 18_49_rating24 = 
}}

===Syndication and streaming===
Repeats of ''Law & Order'' were first broadcast weekdays on cable TV network [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] during the 1994–95 season. The A&E broadcasts were credited with drawing a new, much larger audience to the current weekly NBC ''Law & Order'' episodes. In 2002, A&E did not renew its contract to syndicate ''Law & Order'' as the price was then four times the original 1995 contract price.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Block |first1=Alex Ben |title=A+E at 30: How a Tiny Network Became a $26 Billion Success Story |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/a-e-at-30-how-690921/ |access-date=February 22, 2022 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 28, 2014 |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003151804/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/a-e-at-30-how-690921/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 2023, the series is being broadcast on [[Sundance TV]], [[WE tv]], [[Ion Mystery]], [[BBC America]], [[Bounce TV]], [[Paramount Network]] and [[Pop (American TV channel)|Pop]].

Since mid-2020, selected seasons of ''Law & Order'' have been available for streaming on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] along with ''[[Chicago Fire (TV series)|Chicago Fire]]'', ''[[Chicago P.D. (TV series)|Chicago P.D.]]'', ''[[Chicago Med]]'', ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'', and ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''.  However, unlike some shows on Peacock such as selected seasons of ''SVU'', which are free, access to ''Law & Order'' requires a paid Peacock subscription.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dick-wolf-sets-rich-six-show-streaming-deal-at-peacock-1270337/|title=Dick Wolf Sets Rich Six-Show Streaming Deal at Peacock|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|date=January 16, 2020|access-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117013702/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/live-feed/dick-wolf-sets-rich-six-show-streaming-deal-at-peacock-1270337|archive-date=January 17, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of December 16, 2024, ''Law & Order'' seasons 1–20 are now available to stream on [[Hulu]].