A change is on the horizon for crime series aficionados indulging in their binge-watching habits on Netflix. Fans of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, two bedrocks of procedural crime television, may need to expedite their viewing schedules. These iconic programs, currently available on Netflix outside the United States, are forecasted to exit the streaming platform in the forthcoming weeks.
This announcement is relevant to all regions bar the United States where these series have been off the platform for several years. The first scheduled departure is Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, an enduring show by NBC that has been on the air since 1999. This departure highlights the end of a run for a series that maintains consistent viewership in the Dick Wolf pantheon.
International territories of Netflix were introduced to a few seasons of the show in February 2024. A total of five seasons ( spanning from season 6 to season 11) of the series were made available, equating to an impressive tally of 110 episodes for viewers to enjoy.
The selection does carry the caveat of missing the initial seasons as well as seasons 12 through 26, all of which are exclusive to other providers in the majority of territories. A publicized removal notification references February 14th as the final day for viewers to enjoy Law & Order episodes, with a complete withdrawal of the series scheduled for February 15th.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a crux of the procedural crime genre, has also had a peculiar arrangement on the Netflix platform. The streaming giant featured a chunk of the series — specifically, seasons 10 through 15 which included 129 episodes of the show.
The series, in its entirety, is slated for a global departure from Netflix on March 1st. Those hoping to enjoy the available seasons have until February 28th to do so, replicating a pattern similar to the one witnessed with NCIS on the US Netflix platform.
It is essential to note that the structure of these series, being procedural television dramas, doesn’t necessitate a sequential progression through the seasons. Netflix appeared to have implemented this strategy when NCIS was allowed to have its earlier seasons withdrawn last year.
Despite the escalation in Netflix’s licensing efforts in recent years across multiple countries, several shows, including these two crime series, have temporary one-year licensing arrangements. The specifics of their renewal are unclear, as no indications hint at the possibility, especially considering the removal notices visible on the streaming platform’s app and website.
Given the available viewership data between January and June 2024, as outlined in the Netflix Engagement Reports, both television shows have managed to captivate a considerable audience. Among the two crime stalwarts, Law & Order has attracted a larger viewership with increased viewing hours than CSI.
To illustrate, Law & Order had amassed an astonishing 25.20 million views, translating to approximately 394.50 million hours of watch time. This demonstrates the compelling grip the show has managed to maintain on its audience, despite being a series that’s aired for over two decades.
Equally noteworthy is CSI’s performance in the aforementioned period, garnering 10.70 million views and a sizable 169 million viewing hours’ worth of engagement. Its continued popularity attests to its relevance and influence, as it remains firmly seated within the golden pantheon of crime television.
While the upcoming transition of these iconic shows may be abrupt, they have certainly had a robust journey on the Netflix platform. Their gripping plotlines and compelling characters have proven their longevity, consistently pulling in audiences and keeping them hooked episode after episode.
Despite departure looming over their placement on Netflix, the legacy of these enduring shows will continue to reverberate within the realm of crime television. Both Law & Order and CSI have undeniably left a significant impression, contributing to the perpetuity of the procedural crime genre in our cultural lexicon.