When CBS confirmed that it was pulling the plug on upcoming FBI spinoffs, many fans immediately turned their hopes toward NBC. After all, NBC has a proven track record with sprawling franchise programming thanks to Dick Wolf’s Law & Order and Chicago universes. But while the network may seem like the natural home for any orphaned FBI project, industry insiders say it’s not that simple.
Why NBC Seems Like a Fit — But Isn’t
On paper, the idea makes sense. NBC and Dick Wolf already enjoy a successful creative partnership, one that has kept Wolf’s franchises thriving for decades. Fans assumed that adding FBI spinoffs to NBC’s schedule would be an easy win — more procedurals, more shared storytelling, and more loyal viewers.
But the reality is far more complicated. NBC’s primetime schedule is already stacked with Wolf productions: Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago P.D. Together, they dominate entire nights of NBC’s lineup. Adding more Wolf-driven dramas could create scheduling overload, leaving little room for original programming or fresh genres.
NBC’s Own Challenges
Beyond scheduling, NBC faces its own problems. The network is navigating a turbulent broadcast environment where costs are rising and audience viewing habits are shifting toward streaming platforms. Even established shows are being scrutinized for their budgets, and high-cost procedural dramas are no exception.
Executives also worry about franchise fatigue. With so many Wolf series already in rotation, there’s concern that audiences might burn out if yet another set of interconnected procedurals were introduced. “It’s a balancing act,” one insider explained. “NBC has to keep its cornerstone franchises strong without drowning the schedule in sameness.”
Why CBS’s Loss Stays CBS’s Loss
There’s also the matter of branding. The FBI franchise is closely tied to CBS, where it built its audience and became part of the network’s identity. Moving canceled spinoffs to NBC could create confusion — or worse, a fractured viewership where audiences struggle to follow storylines across two competing networks.
For NBC, the payoff simply isn’t clear. Even though FBI has a proven track record, adopting castoffs from a rival network could come across as risky, especially if those projects were already deemed too costly or redundant by CBS.
The Future of the FBI Universe
For now, fans of FBI can rest easy knowing that the flagship series and its two established spinoffs (Most Wanted and International) remain on CBS. But the canceled projects are unlikely to find a second life at NBC, no matter how strong the Dick Wolf connection might be.
Instead, industry analysts suggest that if the abandoned FBI shows resurface, it will more likely be through streaming platforms, where niche audiences can be targeted more directly without the burden of primetime scheduling.
Bottom Line
NBC may be the king of procedural franchises, but even kings have limits. Between scheduling pressures, financial realities, and franchise fatigue, the network simply isn’t in a position to swoop in and rescue CBS’s canceled FBI spinoffs. For now, the dream of an even bigger Wolf-powered crossover between NBC and CBS remains just that — a dream.
