In HBO’s first major programming move since it changed regimes, the pay net has renewed “Big Love” for a third season.

Net has picked up 12 episodes of the show, in which Bill Paxton and Chloe Sevigny star as members of a polygamous family in Utah. Writing is set to begin next month; lensing is skedded for November.

The renewal, which comes earlier than expected, will ensure the season is completed and ready to air by the time a possible labor stoppage shuts down production in June.

“Love” has seen a dropoff in viewers since it launched in the Sunday night timeslot following “The Sopranos,” when it averaged 4 million viewers in its initial airing. The Monday move has brought initial broadcast numbers of around two million.

But HBO says the network values its original series based on total viewers from six weekly airings, as well as estimates from DVRs and video on demand that indicate the show has a strong following, and a potential weekly viewership around 6 million. “Big Love” also has become the network’s second-highest-rated recent original series among women, behind “The Sopranos.”

The net had originally scheduled “Big Love” for an 8 p.m. Sunday slot leading in to “John From Cincinnati,” but switched the series to Monday night before the season started.

However, HBO will bring the show back to Sunday nights, at least temporarily, when “John From Cincinnati” completes its first season.

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