Lifetime Cancels 'America's Most Wanted'

Michael Yarish/FOX

John Walsh

America's Most Wanted has been canceled -- again.

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Lifetime has opted to cancel the long-running series after 25 seasons, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. As first reported by TV Guide Magazine, the John Walsh-hosted effort may be shopped elsewhere.

Sources tell THR that AMW's studio 20th Television and Walsh's production company will likely explore their options to find the crime-fighting franchise a new home. Fox canceled it in 2011 citing soft ratings.

STORY: 'America's Most Wanted' Gets Second Chance on Lifetime

The series ran for more than 40 episodes on Lifetime, starting out with a 20-episode order in September 2011. The move to Lifetime marked AMW's second revival after a short cancelation in 1996 when Fox picked the series back up after law-enforcement officials and governors from 37 states protested.

AMW has played a role in capturing more than 1,100 fugitives in the U.S. and 30 other countries, including 17 on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List. Walsh launched the show after his only child, Adam, was murdered.

While Lifetime and 20th Television declined comment, the female-skewing cable network is looking to remain in business with Walsh, developing a similarly themed project called John Walsh Investigates, which would take a different approach to his victims' advocacy work.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit