Kara Sears
The original Law & Order, a crime drama series, was available on Netflix until late 2014. Since then, the show has been unavailable on any American streaming platform. The show's spinoff, SVU, was available on Hulu, but the original series could not be streamed online. However, in 2020, it was announced that the original Law & Order would be available to stream on NBC's Peacock app, along with other versions of the show.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original streaming service | Netflix |
| Current streaming service | NBC's Peacock app |
| Availability | Free with ads, $5 or $10 with cable provider |
| Date available on Peacock | July 15, 2020 |
| Previous reasons for absence | NBCUniversal/Comcast's management of streaming rights |
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What You'll Learn
The original series was absent from streaming services
The original Law & Order series was absent from streaming services for a long time. The show, which first aired in 1990, was not available on any American streaming platform, despite virtually every other big show launched in the 1990s finding a digital home. The spin-off SVU was available to stream on Hulu, but the original series remained notably absent from any subscription video-on-demand service.
Up until late 2014, the first eight seasons of the show were available on Netflix. However, they were then removed, leaving fans with no option but to buy digital downloads of each episode or pay $300 for the full series DVD collection.
The absence of the show from streaming services was a mystery. NBCUniversal, which produced the show and controls the streaming rights, did not provide any comment on the matter. Representatives for Dick Wolf, the creator of the show, also declined to offer any information about any factors that have kept the series from streaming or any future plans to bring it back.
However, in 2020, it was announced that the original Law & Order series would finally be available to stream. As part of a deal with Dick Wolf, the show would be included on NBC's new streaming service, Peacock, along with spin-offs SVU and Criminal Intent. The episodes became available on July 15, 2020, with a free ad-supported version of Peacock and two other options costing $5 or $10, depending on the cable provider.
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It was available on Netflix until late 2014
The original Law & Order series, which debuted in 1990, was available on Netflix until late 2014. The first eight seasons of the show were a staple on the platform. However, they were removed from the service in 2014, surprising many fans. This removal forced die-hard fans who wanted on-demand access to either buy digital downloads of each episode or pay a substantial sum for the full series DVD collection.
The show's absence from Netflix may be due to a combination of factors, including the high cost of streaming rights and the large number of episodes. The show's producer, NBCUniversal, has remained tight-lipped about the reasons for its removal. Representatives for Dick Wolf, who has an ownership stake in the series, have also declined to comment on the show's absence from streaming platforms.
While the original Law & Order series is no longer on Netflix, some spin-offs and crossovers are available on other streaming platforms, such as Peacock and Hulu. These platforms offer on-demand access to spin-offs like SVU, Criminal Intent, and Organized Crime. However, due to broadcasting rights, no single platform has the complete 24 seasons of the show.
The prolonged absence of the original Law & Order series from streaming platforms remains a mystery to fans, especially considering the show's immense success and cultural impact.
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NBCUniversal controls the streaming rights
NBCUniversal, the producer of the show, controls the streaming rights to Law & Order. The original series was available on Netflix until late 2014, after which it disappeared from the platform. This absence from streaming services was unusual, given that virtually every other big show launched in the 1990s has found a digital home.
NBCUniversal's silence on the matter has led to speculation about the reasons behind the unavailability of the series for streaming. One possible explanation is that NBCUniversal is strategizing to maximize the value of its content platforms. The company has had talks with Dick Wolf, the creator of Law & Order, about using his branded properties to enhance the company's content platforms.
In 2020, it was announced that the original Law & Order, along with its spin-offs SVU and Criminal Intent, would be available for streaming on NBC's Peacock app starting July 15, 2020. This marked the first time that the original series would be available for streaming. The Peacock app offers a free ad-supported version, as well as two other options with costs depending on the user's cable provider.
As of 2025, Law & Order continues to be available on NBC and Peacock, with new episodes of Season 24 premiering on the platforms.
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Dick Wolf has an ownership stake in the series
Dick Wolf is a legend in the television industry, with several achievements under his belt. He is an American billionaire and television producer, best known for his Law & Order franchise. Since 1990, the franchise has included six police/courtroom dramas and four international spinoffs. He is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Chicago franchise, which has included four Chicago-based dramas since 2012, and the co-creator and executive producer of the FBI franchise, which has spun off two additional series since 2018.
Wolf has an ownership stake in the Law & Order series and would demand to be fairly compensated. NBC has had talks with Wolf before about using his branded properties to create value for the company's content platforms. Wolf and NBC were in discussions a few years ago about turning the Oxygen cable channel into a Wolf-centric true-crime network. While Oxygen did switch to crime, the Wolf branding never happened.
Wolf's original series Law & Order ran from 1990 to 2010 and was revived in 2022. It has surpassed Gunsmoke as the longest-running dramatic show in American television history, making it one of television's most successful franchises. It has been nominated for the most consecutive Emmy Awards of any primetime drama series.
Wolf's vision of an interconnected One Chicago universe came true, with fans tuning in weekly for Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med. There was even a season of Chicago Justice that aired in 2017, so the One Chicago creator accomplished it all. Wolf's primetime shows have a massive impact, with people referencing Dick Wolf shows all over the world.
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It will be available to stream on NBC's Peacock app
The original Law & Order series was notably absent from streaming services for a long time. While the show was available on Netflix until late 2014, it disappeared from the platform, leaving fans without an on-demand option. However, there is good news for Law & Order enthusiasts! The series will be available to stream on NBC's Peacock app.
Peacock is NBC's streaming service, and it was announced in 2020 that the original Law & Order, along with Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, would be coming to the platform. This marked the first time that the original series would be available to stream. Fans had to wait until July 15, 2020, to access all the episodes on Peacock.
There are a few options for viewers who want to stream Law & Order on Peacock. There is a free, ad-supported version of the service. Additionally, there are two other subscription options that cost either $5 or $10 per month, depending on your cable provider. With a small fee, fans can gain unlimited access to the series.
The addition of Law & Order to Peacock is part of a deal with Dick Wolf, the creator of the franchise. Wolf has an ownership stake in the series, so any streaming plans would need to involve him. NBC and Wolf have had discussions in the past about utilizing his branded properties to enhance NBC's content platforms. While not all plans have come to fruition, the deal for Law & Order to stream on Peacock suggests that both parties are working together to bring Wolf's content to NBC's streaming service.
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Frequently asked questions
The original Law and Order was not available on any American streaming platforms until July 15, 2020, when it became available on NBC's Peacock app.
It is unclear why the show was not available to stream before. However, it seems that NBCUniversal, which produced the show and controls the streaming rights, may have been involved in the decision.
You can watch Law and Order on NBC and the NBC App, as well as on NBC's Peacock app.
There is a free ad-supported version of Peacock, as well as two other options that cost $5 or $10 depending on your cable provider.
