With new seasons of all CBS scripted series delayed by the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the network has relied on shows from within Paramount Global and beyond for fresh scripted fare to put on the fall schedule. That will now include an extension of CBS’ biggest drama franchise of the past decade, NCIS, with episodes that will make their U.S. debut on the broadcast network just three days after their worldwide premiere in Australia.
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NCIS: Sydney, the first international spinoff for a CBS Studios global drama franchise, was commissioned last year by Paramount+ Australia and the country’s Paramount-owned Network 10. It will debut exclusively on Paramount+ Australia Nov. 10, followed by its U.S. premiere on CBS Nov. 13, with weekly rollout of new episodes on both.
On CBS, NCIS: Sydney will air Mondays 10 PM, following a rerun of the mothership series at 9 PM. The 10 PM slot, previously labeled as “Paramount+ original TBA” in the revised CBS fall schedule released in July, had been earmarked for NCIS: Sydney; the delay in the announcement was due to hammering out the necessary deals to make it happen. Warming up the 10 PM time period from late September, when the broadcast season launches, until NCIS: Sydney comes on, will be repeats of NCIS: Hawai’i, currently airing at 9 PM on the night.
With the addition of NCIS: Sydney, CBS has found a way to build programming blocks featuring three of its most popular scripted series, pairing repeats with some sort of fresh (for a U.S. broadcast network) content. On Tuesdays, FBI reruns at 10 PM will be preceded by Paramount+ docuseries FBI: True. And on Thursday, reruns of hit comedy Ghosts will be followed by episodes of the original BBC series, which streams on Max in the U.S.
Other new-to-broadcast series CBS will be airing this fall include Paramount Network’s juggernaut Yellowstone and former CBS drama-turned-Paramount+ original SEAL Team.
“NCIS is one of the most popular series in the world and we’re thrilled to expand this franchise with a uniquely Australian twist,” said Amy Reisenbach, President, CBS Entertainment. “With the addition of NCIS: Sydney, our studio and Network footprint continues to grow in this fascinating world that has been a proven winner with viewers on both linear and streaming platforms. Featuring the stunning backdrop of Australia, the new series will incorporate the high-stakes intrigue, humor and camaraderie that have kept fans captivated by the NCIS teams for over two decades.”
NCIS: Sydney, starring Olivia Swann (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) and Todd Lasance (Spartacus: War of the Damned), will be available in all Paramount+ international markets and on Australia’s Network 10 at a later date. In the U.S., its run will be on CBS, with Paramount+ only streaming a handful of recent episodes.
“Bringing NCIS: Sydney to Paramount+ international markets is a true testament to the power of One Paramount across our content and platforms,” said Marco Nobili, EVP and International General Manager, Paramount+. “With this exciting new chapter of one of the world’s most successful TV dramas, we unveil new characters and incredible locations to the eager NCIS fandom on Paramount+, broadening our reach and fulfilling our mission to entertain audiences around the world.”
Created by Morgan O’Neill (Les Norton), who also serves as executive producer alongside Sara Richardson and Sue Seeary (Ten Pound Poms), NCIS: Sydney sees rising international tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The brilliant and eclectic team of U.S. NCIS Agents and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are grafted into a multi-national taskforce, to keep naval crimes in check, in the most contested patch of ocean on the planet.
The series, filmed in Sydney, stars Swann as NCIS Special Agent Michelle Mackey and Lasance as her 2IC AFP counterpart, Sergeant Jim “JD” Dempsey. They are joined by Sean Sagar as NCIS Special Agent, DeShawn Jackson, Tuuli Narkle as AFP Liaison Officer, Constable Evie Cooper; Mavournee Hazel as AFP Forensic Scientist, Bluebird ‘Blue’ Gleeson and William McInnes as AFP Forensic Pathologist, Dr Roy Penrose.
A local international co-production for CBS Studios, NCIS: Sydney is produced by Endemol Shine Australia for CBS Studios and Paramount Australia, and distributed outside Australia by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
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