'NCIS' Franchise Premiere Night Boosts CBS Tuesday Viewership 39%

· Entertainment · United States

The NCIS franchise delivered CBS its top finish during Tuesday's primetime window, averaging 5.49 million viewers, a 39% increase from last year's premiere Tuesday. The boost was attributed in part to the launch of 'NCIS: New York,' the newest installment in the long-running franchise. The strong performance underscores the franchise's continued drawing power for the broadcaster as it anchors its weekly schedule. The numbers come amid a broadcast landscape where established procedural dramas remain key ratings drivers.

Why it matters:The robust numbers reaffirm that long-running procedural franchises remain a reliable ratings engine for broadcast networks even as streaming fragments audiences, giving CBS a proven anchor to build its schedule around amid intense competition for viewers.

Key points

  • CBS averaged 5.49 million viewers on Tuesday, up 39% from last year's premiere Tuesday
  • The launch of 'NCIS: New York' contributed to the boost
  • The NCIS franchise remains a top performer for the network

Sources (original reporting)

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