With time running out for a renewal of "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" at NBC, the ailing mothership series might find a new home on TNT next season, sources said.
The cable channel, which already airs reruns of the venerable crime drama, is in talks with the show's producers about picking up original episodes.
The show's hopes of replacing "Gunsmoke" as the longest running primetime drama in television history are being hampered by low ratings.
"Negotiations are ongoing regarding 'Law & Order' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' and, as always, we do not comment on negotiations," "Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf said through a spokeswoman.
A spokesman for producer NBC Universal TV Studio and a spokeswoman for TNT also declined comment.
After months of active negotiations, prospects for both series are getting dimmer as NBC is said to be loading up on new dramas for fall heading into the network's "upfront" presentation to advertisers Monday.