Studios USA's talent deals continue

Writer-producer Neal Baer, an executive producer on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has inked a two-year production deal with Studios USA.

Baer will continue as SVU's writing showrunner next season, a position he took over in the autumn after leaving NBC's ER. Afterwards, he will stay on as executive producer, while developing other projects for the studio.

{We are delighted to extend our relationship with Neal who, we believe, is one of the most thoughtful and versatile writers working in television today,{ said David Kissinger, president of the USA Television Production Group.

He added: {He has brought Law & Order: Special Victims Unit to a new level of distinction and success this past season.{

During the 2000-01 TV season, the Wolf Films/Studios USA drama gained 10% in total viewers, averaging 13.3m and 9% among adults 18-49.