CBS recently confirmed the cancellation of both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, sparking hope among fans that another network like NBC might step in to keep the shows alive. But in reality, there are several major reasons why NBC is highly unlikely to take on these spinoffs — from scheduling conflicts to financial risks, ownership rights, and overall content strategy.
1. A Packed Primetime Schedule
One of the biggest hurdles is NBC’s already crowded lineup. The network currently anchors its schedule with long-running hits like Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med (the “One Chicago” block), as well as Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU. These shows dominate primetime slots and have loyal audiences.
Bringing in two additional hour-long dramas would force NBC to shift or cut existing programming — a risky move that could disrupt established viewing habits.
2. Production Costs and Financial Burden
Both FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted are high-cost dramas. Their budgets reflect international filming, ensemble casts with rising salaries, and significant marketing spend.
For NBC to pick them up, it would need to renegotiate production costs, advertising commitments, and revenue splits. Without guaranteed profit margins, the financial risk outweighs the reward.
3. Complex Ownership and Licensing Issues
These shows aren’t pure NBC productions. While Universal Television is involved, the series originated on CBS, and the rights are tied up across multiple studios.
NBC acquiring them wouldn’t just mean airing the shows — it would require complicated negotiations over intellectual property, streaming rights, and syndication deals. This legal and financial red tape makes a direct transfer unlikely.
4. Ratings Performance and Viewer Trends
Although both spinoffs still have loyal fan bases and decent ratings, their viewership numbers have dipped in recent years. CBS weighed the declining returns against the high production costs and opted to prioritize new projects and lower-risk investments.
For NBC, the question is whether these shows could deliver consistent growth and attract fresh audiences. Without strong evidence of future profitability, the gamble looks risky.
5. Content Strategy and Brand Overlap
NBC already manages multiple large-scale franchises (Law & Order and One Chicago). Adding more procedurals from another network could create redundancy and dilute its own brand identity.
At a time when networks are balancing traditional TV with streaming strategies, NBC may prefer to double down on its own properties rather than adopt someone else’s canceled series.
Conclusion: Not Impossible, But Highly Unlikely
While the idea of NBC rescuing FBI: Most Wanted or FBI: International isn’t completely out of the question, the practical challenges make it improbable. For this to happen, NBC would have to reshuffle its schedule, shoulder hefty production costs, and navigate complex licensing hurdles.
The more realistic possibility is a streaming platform picking up the shows in a limited form — but as of now, fans should temper their expectations.
