CBS Shakes Up Fall: FBI Relocates, NCIS Takes Over Tuesdays & Yellowstone Spinoff Set for Midseason
In the fiercely competitive landscape of broadcast television, a network’s fall schedule isn’t just a list of shows—it’s a strategic declaration of war. Every timeslot is a battlefield, and every premiere is a calculated move to capture eyeballs and dominate the ratings. As the 2025-2026 season approaches, CBS has unveiled a fall schedule that is nothing short of a seismic shift, signaling a new era of programming. With bold decisions to relocate its formidable FBI franchise, create a new powerhouse night for NCIS, and hold a highly anticipated Yellowstone spinoff for midseason, the network is playing a high-stakes game designed to solidify its position as a ratings leader.
This isn’t just a simple shuffle; it’s a fundamental restructuring of the network’s primetime lineup, a confident and aggressive strategy built on its most reliable franchises. The move promises to change the television viewing habits of millions and sets the stage for a compelling showdown with its competitors.
The New Tuesday Powerhouse: NCIS Takes Command
For years, the Tuesday night lineup on CBS was synonymous with the procedural empire of Dick Wolf‘s FBI franchise. However, with the cancellations of FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted, a new opportunity arose. And CBS wasted no time in seizing it. The network has officially designated Tuesday night as the new home for its most enduring franchise: NCIS.
Starting this fall, viewers can expect an all-out NCIS block from 8 PM to 11 PM. The flagship series, NCIS, will return for its 23rd season, reclaiming the Tuesday 8 PM timeslot it famously held for nearly two decades. It will be followed by the new prequel series, NCIS: Origins, starring Austin Stowell as a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, which will anchor the 9 PM hour. The night will be capped off with NCIS: Sydney, which moves from midseason to a permanent fall slot at 10 PM.
This move is a brilliant piece of strategic programming. The network is essentially creating a three-hour viewing event, leveraging the immense brand loyalty of the NCIS fanbase to create a powerful, seamless flow of content. This kind of “stacking” has been proven to work for other networks, such as NBC’s “One Chicago” and “Law & Order” nights. By consolidating its most popular franchise on a single night, CBS is not just boosting the ratings of the new spinoffs; it’s creating an unmissable weekly appointment for millions of viewers.
The Strategic Relocation of the FBI Franchise
With the Tuesdays now fully committed to the NCIS universe, the FBI franchise is on the move. Instead of losing a night, CBS is using the opportunity to build a new one. The network has moved the flagship show, FBI, to Mondays at 9 PM. It will be preceded by the new comedy series, DMV, and followed by the sophomore drama Watson, creating a solid block of shows that should appeal to a broad audience. The move to Monday is a powerful statement. Historically, Monday nights have been a mix of comedy and drama, and CBS is looking to fortify this night with one of its most reliable procedurals.
The decision to move FBI to Monday night is a show of faith in the strength of the series itself. The show, which is a consistent top performer, is now tasked with leading a new night, a role that was previously handled by long-running comedies like The Neighborhood. While it loses its direct companion shows, the flagship series is strong enough to stand on its own and serve as an anchor for a new lineup. The move also protects the franchise by giving it a dedicated slot, free from the crowded competition of the Tuesday schedule.
The Midseason Surprise: A Yellowstone Spinoff
Perhaps the most surprising and aggressive move in the new schedule is the announcement of a new Yellowstone spinoff for midseason. The series, tentatively titled Y: Marshals, will star Luke Grimes, reprising his role as Kayce Dutton, who leaves the ranch to join an elite U.S. Marshals unit. This is a massive, cross-platform play that brings one of television’s biggest franchises from its streaming home on Paramount+ to the broadcast stage.
The decision to hold the show for midseason is a deliberate and brilliant tactical move. The fall broadcast season is already a crowded landscape of returning hits and new shows. By holding Y: Marshals for the second half of the season, CBS is ensuring that it will be a major event, a midseason bombshell that will attract an immense amount of attention. It gives the network a powerful, high-profile asset to combat the competition when other networks may be running out of new content.
Furthermore, this move is a huge play for a new demographic. The Yellowstone universe, created by Taylor Sheridan, has a massive and dedicated fanbase that has largely been confined to streaming. By bringing the story of Kayce Dutton to broadcast, CBS is tapping into this loyal audience and introducing them to its network. It’s a calculated gamble to bring a prestige, premium-cable brand to a broadcast audience, and if successful, it could fundamentally change the way networks use their streaming assets.
A Look Forward: The New CBS Strategy
When viewed as a whole, CBS’s new fall schedule is a masterclass in modern network strategy. It’s a series of bold, calculated chess moves. The network is not just filling timeslots; it’s building new foundations for long-term success.
The new NCIS Tuesdays is a move to consolidate and maximize the potential of a proven powerhouse. The relocation of FBI to Mondays is a confident stride toward building a new franchise night. And the strategic placement of the Yellowstone spinoff Y: Marshals for midseason is a forward-thinking play to leverage the power of a major cultural phenomenon.
While some may miss the comfort of the old schedule, this new lineup represents the kind of aggressive, forward-looking programming that is necessary for a broadcast network to thrive in the streaming era. It’s a clear signal that CBS is not just playing to win—it’s playing to dominate. The fall of 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years, and all eyes will be on how these bold new strategies play out.
