The longest running show on the Fox network will be downgraded to quarterly specials.
It isn't because of a drop in crime that will result in a decline of "America's Most Wanted," the Saturday night staple hosted by John Walsh since 1988.
"It's been an important show to us historically," Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly said Monday morning in a teleconference. "But it's no secret that it hasn't made money in quite a while."
He said John Walsh is in talks with other TV properties of the parent News Corp., including the MyTV Network. "I will not at all be surprised if you see the show pop up somewhere."
Currently running Saturdays with new shows most weeks of the year, "America's Most Wanted" will begin appearing in the 2011-2012 season as a four-times-a-year two hour special.
The show marked its 1,000th capture in 2008; by now more than 1,150 have been captured.
"America's Most Wanted" isn't the only show on the Fox fall schedule that will appear as a quarterly. "Mobbed," a reality series about flash mobs, hosted by Howie Mandel that has appeared as a special and was expected to be a series, will only appear in the new season as a specials as well.
