The surprising cancellation of FBI: International after four seasons left many viewers wondering what happened to the popular CBS procedural. The international crime drama followed the FBI’s “Fly Team” working out of Budapest and had kept decent ratings since it started in 2021. Yet, in March 2025, CBS announced the show would wrap up with its current season, along with fellow spin-off FBI: Most Wanted.
The Dick Wolf-produced franchise has been a big part of CBS programming, with the original FBI series going strong into many more seasons. Though the network hasn’t given a clear reason for FBI: International’s cancellation, it seems like factors beyond just viewership numbers played a role in the decision.
Making Room for ‘FBI: CIA’
The most significant factor behind FBI International’s cancellation seems to be CBS’s development of a new spin-off, FBI: CIA. Announced in January 2025, this series will follow “a dedicated, strait-laced FBI agent and a street-smart CIA agent” who team up to tackle domestic terrorism in New York City. The network appears to be swapping out established spin-offs with new ideas to spark interest in the overall franchise.
This strategy is similar to how CBS has handled other hit franchises. In 2024, the network canceled NCIS: Hawai’i right before launching NCIS: Origins. By limiting the number of spin-offs running at the same time, CBS can keep viewers engaged while managing production costs across its shows.
Declining Viewership Trends
While still doing okay, FBI International had seen a noticeable drop in viewers. In its fourth season, the show averaged about 6.53 million viewers per episode, which was a 10% dip from the previous season. Even with a loyal audience, this downward trend probably played into the network’s decision.
Compared to other CBS dramas, FBI International fell behind several network favorites. Shows like Tracker, Matlock, the original FBI, Blue Bloods, NCIS, Elsbeth, and Watson all had better overall viewership than both FBI International and FBI: Most Wanted. In a competitive TV scene, these kinds of ratings really matter to network execs.
Budget Constraints and Cost-Cutting Measures
The cancellation comes amid broader financial considerations at CBS. In May 2024, the network had already announced plans to cut the minimum episode guarantees for cast members by two episodes, indicating some cost-cutting measures. As an international production filming in Europe, FBI International probably had higher production expenses compared to shows filmed domestically.
CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl acknowledged these economic factors, saying, “Obviously we love working with Dick [Wolf], we have to be fiscally responsible, and ultimately those deals and the shows just weren’t penciling out for us from an economic perspective.” This straightforward admission confirms that budget concerns were a key factor in ending the series.
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Limited Network Programming Space
Television networks have a limited number of programming hours, which means they can’t keep an endless number of shows running. CBS only has 21 hours of primetime programming available each week, so they have to make tough choices when adding new series. With FBI: CIA in the works along with spin-offs of Blue Bloods and Fire Country, something had to give.
CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl explained this challenge, saying, “It’s never easy to end shows. We had a lot of options this year, and the schedule is really full. So we always have to look at all of our shows, look at the aggregate, the creative, where they are in their life cycle, what the finances look like, what the ratings are…. And we make those tough decisions.”
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Four Seasons Is a Common Endpoint for Many Series
While some hit procedurals last for a decade or more, four seasons is a decent run by today’s TV standards. FBI International had produced nearly 80 episodes by the time its cancellation was announced – plenty for a solid syndication package and streaming presence. From a business standpoint, the show had already hit many of its financial goals.
Plus, four seasons gave the creative team plenty of room to fully dive into the concept of the international Fly Team. Networks often consider whether a show has reached its natural end against the potential for new stories from completely fresh concepts.
6Cast Changes and Creative Evolution
FBI: International went through some big cast changes during its run, which might have impacted its long-term success. The show saw notable upheaval in Season 3, possibly affecting its stability and connection with the audience. Such transitions can sometimes signal to networks that a series might be better off with a planned conclusion rather than constant cast changes.
When procedural shows lose key cast members or need major creative overhauls, networks have to weigh these issues against the potential of launching brand-new concepts that could attract fresh viewers. The mix of creative challenges along with other business factors probably played a part in CBS’s final decision.
7Network Strategy Favoring New Concepts
CBS has shown a clear trend of favoring new spin-offs over sticking with long-running ones across various franchises. This strategy lets the network leverage established brand recognition while keeping their content fresh. By wrapping up FBI: International after four seasons, CBS can focus resources on FBI: CIA while still keeping the original FBI series strong.
This makes sense, especially since CBS had already renewed the original FBI through season 9, showing their ongoing confidence in the core franchise. Instead of spreading resources thin across three similar shows, focusing on the main series while launching a new and unique spin-off boosts both creative potential and marketing opportunities.
