The NCIS franchise will be experiencing a major change in the next fall television cycle, and it might change the franchise for the better. As of the fall of 2025, the NCIS universe will be made up of NCIS and three active spinoffs, including NCIS: Sydney, NCIS: Origins, and the highly anticipated NCIS: Tony & Ziva. While having multiple spinoffs is not new for the police procedural, the shows’ combined time slots will be.
In recent years, the NCIS franchise has been growing more than ever with the introduction of its first prequel, NCIS: Origins, and now with the introduction of the series’ first show centered on a duo instead of a team in NCIS: Tony & Ziva. With all these changes, there are worries that NCIS might be growing too fast. However, the latest NCIS spinoffs represent good news for NCIS in the fall 2025 cycle and maybe beyond.
NCIS, NCIS: Origins, And NCIS: Sydney Are All Airing On Tuesdays In The Fall
NCIS Will Finally Have Its First Ever Block
As reported by TV Line, CBS has released its fall schedule for 2025, and the results are exciting. For the first time in NCIS’ history, it will take up an entire block of television on Tuesdays starting next September. NCIS will air at 8 p.m., followed by NCIS: Origins at 9 p.m., and NCIS: Sydney at 10 p.m. Previously, NCIS and NCIS: Origins aired back to back on Mondays, while NCIS: Sydney had its own slot on Fridays. Having the three shows air one after another is not only great for television, but it is also great for the franchise.
Having the three shows air one after another is not only great for television, but it is also great for the franchise.
For such a large franchise like NCIS, it can be difficult to connect the spinoffs and have them feel like they are part of the same universe. NCIS season 22 has already tried to push the spinoffs closer together by referencing their satellite offices from canceled spinoffs and featuring a former NCIS star. However, this feeling that the NCIS franchise is a unit will only be strengthened with the shows’ new air times.
The New NCIS Block Could Increase The Spinoffs’ Ratings
The Block Could Be The Push The Spinoffs Need
While both NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney feature brilliant casts and exciting storylines, the spinoffs have seen significantly lower ratings than expected. This is especially true when they are compared to NCIS’ consistently higher ratings. NCIS: Origins had some help by being next to NCIS this television season, but NCIS: Sydney was completely on its own, which might have contributed to its lower ratings when compared to the prequel.
As a result, having three back-to-back NCIS shows could help the franchise by highlighting all three of their active network television shows rather than setting one aside. Better ratings for the shows could also lead to future renewals. While NCIS, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Sydney have all been renewed, the cancelation of NCIS: Hawai’i proves that no show is ever safe. However, having better ratings could be a major incentive to keep renewing them.
Why NCIS: Tony & Ziva Isn’t In The Block?
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Is Different From The Others
NCIS: Tony & Ziva will not be in NCIS’ CBS block because it will be exclusively available on Paramount+. The Tony & Ziva spinoff will be the first show in the franchise to premiere directly on streaming without airing on television first. The change is big for the franchise, but also explains why NCIS: Tony & Ziva will be somewhat different from the rest of the shows.
Fortunately, however, NCIS: Tony & Ziva will also be airing in the fall. While it may not air alongside NCIS or its other spinoffs, the fact that it is airing at the same time could lead to major connections between the shows. NCIS has proven that cameos are possible, with Michael Weatherly even appearing in NCIS season 21 as a tribute to Ducky. As a result, NCIS: Tony & Ziva won’t ever feel too separate from NCIS because the characters can always be tied back to the flagship.