NCIS franchise's Tuesday premiere night averages 5.49 million viewers on CBS, up 39%
CBS's three-show NCIS lineup topped Tuesday primetime on 6 October with 5.49 million viewers, up 39% on last year's premiere Tuesday, according to Deadline and Collider. The NCIS season 24 premiere drew 6.45 million.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2CBS's NCIS lineup finished first in Tuesday primetime, averaging 5.49 million viewers, which Deadline reports is up 39% from last year's premiere Tuesday. DeadlineN “averaging 5.49 million viewers, up 39% from last year’s premiere Tuesday” Read at Deadline ↗ ColliderN “averaged 5.49 million viewers, which delivered a Number 1 broadcast finish” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 2The night, 6 October, brought the season 24 premiere of NCIS, the series premiere of NCIS: New York and the season 3 premiere of NCIS: Origins. ColliderN “On Tuesday, October 6, the franchise, which remains a smash hit all these years later, returned with a number of premieres.” Read at Collider ↗ DeadlineN “That’s thanks in part to the launch of NCIS: New York.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 2The original NCIS drew 6.45 million viewers, up 21% year over year. Deadline says that is the series' most-watched episode in more than two years, since the season 21 finale in May 2024. Collider calls it the night's most-watched scripted broadcast programme. DeadlineN “whose Season 24 debut raked in 6.45 million viewers to become the series’ most-watched episode in more than two years” Read at Deadline ↗ ColliderN “NCIS was the night’s most-watched scripted broadcast program with an average of 6.45 million viewers.” Read at Collider ↗
Centre · 1NCIS: New York, which brings back LL Cool J as Sam Hanna alongside Scott Caan and Nick Schaeffer, drew 5.62 million viewers at 9 p.m. Deadline says that is up 53% year over year in a time slot previously held by NCIS: Origins. DeadlineN “delivered 5.62 million viewers in the 9 p.m. hour. That is up 53% year-over-year in the time period, which was previously occupied by NCIS: Origins.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 2NCIS: Origins, with Mark Harmon joining the cast as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, was the lowest-rated of the three at 4.39 million viewers in the 10 p.m. hour. That is up 20% on its premiere a year earlier, which aired at 9 p.m. DeadlineN “tallied 4.39 million viewers in the 10 p.m. hour, up 20% compared to its year-ago premiere in the 9 p.m. hour” Read at Deadline ↗ ColliderN “Origins came in with an average of 4.39 million viewers, which signifies a 20% rise from its premiere a year ago.” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 2Michael Weatherly returned to the flagship series as Anthony DiNozzo Jr. Collider says the episode ended with DiNozzo named the new agency director after Director Vance's death at the end of season 23. ColliderN “by the time the episode ended, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo was made the new agency director” Read at Collider ↗ DeadlineN “Michael Weatherly also rejoined the flagship series this season Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo Jr.” Read at Deadline ↗
Centre · 1Collider attributes the bump to the returns of Weatherly, LL Cool J and Harmon, but says the boost may be temporary. It also quotes showrunner Steven D. Binder on a possible crossover between Origins and New York: he did not promise one but said NCIS history suggests one is likely, though crossovers are 'very complicated to shoot'. ColliderN “has facilitated a boost in viewership for the franchise, albeit temporarily.”“Crossovers are very complicated to shoot.” Read at Collider ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Deadline gives an exclusive ratings report; Collider rewrites the figures as a fan-oriented story about a viewership 'record' and the returning stars.
- Emphasis
- Deadline stresses year-over-year comparisons for each show. Collider stresses cast returns and a possible crossover.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Collider's headline claims a record, while Deadline's figures only support the most-watched NCIS episode in over two years. Collider adds no 39% figure and no 21% gain for NCIS.
- Charged language
- “Comes Out Swinging”“Smashes a Major Viewership Record”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The NCIS lineup averaged 5.49 million viewers on Tuesday 6 October and finished first on CBS.
- NCIS drew 6.45 million, NCIS: New York 5.62 million and NCIS: Origins 4.39 million.
- Weatherly, LL Cool J and Mark Harmon feature in the returns.
Where accounts differ
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Basis of NCIS: New York's 53% gain
- Centre
- Deadline says it is up 53% in the time slot formerly held by Origins. Collider describes it as a gain on the Origins season 2 premiere.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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‘NCIS’ Franchise Comes Out Swinging With 39% Audience Boost For CBS Tuesday Premiere Night
Celebratory Trade ratings exclusive that leads with the 39% gain and compares each show with last year.
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‘NCIS’ Officially Smashes a Major Viewership Record With a Surprise Return
Celebratory Fan-oriented piece that calls the numbers a record, credits star returns, and adds the crossover talk.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 8 Oct 23:30 First DeadlineN ‘NCIS’ Franchise Comes Out Swinging With 39% Audience Boost For CBS Tuesday Premiere Night
- 12 Oct 12:30 +85h ColliderN ‘NCIS’ Officially Smashes a Major Viewership Record With a Surprise Return
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.