NBCUniversal strikes ‘nine figure’ deal with ‘Law & Order’ creator Dick Wolf

Law & Order SVU

NBCUniversal (NBCU) has struck a reported ‘nine-figure deal’ to retain the services of Law & Order creator Dick Wolf.

The five-year agreement will see Wolf and his Wolf Entertainment banner remaining with NBCU’s studio Universal Television, with the deal spanning both broadcast and streaming. Wolf has been with Universal – now part of NBCU Content Studios – for almost 40 years.

The extension to his previous deal, struck in 2016, comes on the back of NBCU’s streamer Peacock securing non-exclusive rights to a swathe of Wolf’s juggernaut brands, including Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.

US reports suggest the production deal with the US studio is well into nine figures, which soars to almost $1bn when combined with the recently agreed content pact.

Three-year renewal pact

Dick Wolf

As part of the arrangement, sibling broadcaster NBC has also ordered three-year renewals to Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med and Law & Order: SVU.

Wolf said: “I’m gratified and excited that Universal will remain our home for five more years. This new term deal complements our recently concluded agreement to make Peacock one of the primary destinations for both the L&O and Chicago brands, as well as our extraordinary three-year NBC broadcast pickups on all four current series.

“We are now supercharged to expand our business on new platforms, both domestically and internationally, while continuing to produce our current and future series for broadcasting and streaming networks.”

Bonnie Hammer, chairman at NBCU Content Studios, added: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Dick over the decades and it goes without saying he remains one of the most influential producers in history.

“He is a visionary unlike any other whose impact has changed the entire television landscape. We’re beyond thrilled to have Dick and his team remain in the NBCUniversal family for many years to come.”

Pearlena Igbokwe, president of Universal Television, said the “significance of having Dick Wolf remain at Universal Television can’t be overstated. Dick has proven himself masterful at building successful, iconic brands and telling gripping, intelligent and thought-provoking stories. It’s an honour and pleasure to be a part of the Wolf Pack for the next five years.”

In related news, NBCU has also signed a “massive licencing deal” with A+E Networks for its upcoming Peacock streamer. The deal will serve to bulk up Peacock’s library of unscripted library content with hundreds of hours of shows such as Storage Wars, Cold Case Files and Ancient Aliens.