The procedural from Down Under amassed nearly 10 million viewers across the linear network and streamer.
What the NCIS team needed was a trip to the Outback. The long-running military police procedural NCIS: Sydney has made its first worldwide appearance on Paramount+, and CBS revealed that it has officially become the most streamed CBS network premiere ever. Nearly 10 million viewers have seen glimpses of the Australia-based spinoff since its November 14 network premiere, either on the linear network or on the streamer. This nearly doubles the previously remarkable 5.64 million live + same-day viewers.
The launch of Sydney is fortuitous for CBS which, thanks to the strikes, didn’t have any new scripted content lined up for the rest of the year. Already, the latest NCIS spinoff is pulling viewership that would be considered strong for the more established entries of the franchise. NCIS: Hawai’i, for example, averaged 5 million viewers per episode premiere last season before reaching 7.53 million in delayed viewing. It’s further proof of the staying power of the procedural franchise as part of CBS’s regular lineup, though it’s still a ways off from the numbers the parent series draws. While stateside attention is vital, the goal of going international is to capture the attention of international audiences. That’s exactly what Sydney has done so far, as locals in Australia are also tuning in enough to make the series the most-watched local series since Paramount+ first launched in the country.
NCIS: Sydney comes from Les Norton writer Morgan O’Neill and takes the naval crime-solving the series is known for Down Under. Special forces from the NCIS strike up a joint task force with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to root out any naval crimes in the Indo-Pacific, specifically any involving American military personnel. Along the way, the two forces have to figure out how to play nice and become a stronger unit by forging bonds and sharing resources. At the center of the task force are Olivia Swann and Todd Lasance who lead a new team of colorful characters as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey and Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey respectively, alongside Sean Sagar, Tuuli Narkle, Mavournee Hazel, and William McInnes.
The ‘NCIS’ Franchise Returns Next Year
Following the 2024 Super Bowl broadcast, the popular NCIS series and Hawaii will return the following year, beginning in February. The two shows will return on Monday, February 12 as part of CBS’s programming slate, which will resume now that both Hollywood strikes have ended. The original show will broadcast first at 9 p.m., followed by the spinoff at 10 p.m. While Hawai’i, which is aiming to establish itself as a long-lasting branch of the series, will go into its third season, NCIS, the network’s flagship procedural, will return for its 21st season. The network is searching for the next installment in the franchise that has some longevity to run alongside the main series after NCIS: Los Angeles ends.