'Law & Order: CI' moves to USA

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. police procedural, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," began its seventh season Thursday on a new network.

"CI" was moved to cable television's USA Network to avoid cancellation, the New York Daily News reported.

Reruns of the three-show NBC "Law & Order" franchise have long been seen on cable, so the switch should make for a smooth transition, the newspaper said.

Returning are the show's original team of Vincent D'Onofrio as Detective Robert Goren and Kathryn Erbe as his partner, Detective Alexandra Eames.

Chris Noth, also returns as Mike Logan, the role he played on the flagship "Law & Order" series from 1990-95 and has reprised on "CI" since 2005.

Noth and the team of D'Onofrio and Erbe star in alternate episodes.

This season, Logan gets a new partner since Julianne Nicholson, the actress who played his former one, is on maternity leave.

His new partner this season will be played by Alicia Witt.