‘Blue’ to continue with 11th season

ABC and producer Steven Bochco have reached an agreement renewing “NYPD Blue” for an 11th season extending into 2004, the parties announced Tuesday.

Sources say ABC had sought to reduce the license fee the network pays to broadcast the cop show, which has exhibited admirable endurance at the start of its 10th year. It’s currently averaging 13 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research estimates.

Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed, but ABC has reportedly renewed the series for close to its current fee, which is said to be about $3.5 million an episode, still less than the network pays for its other most-watched drama, “The Practice.”

Dennis Franz, the lone remaining original cast member, already has agreed to an additional year. Bochco is preparing a futuristic police series for the Fox network, tentatively scheduled to premiere next season.