New York, September 15, 2025
News Summary
CBS has announced its fall broadcast schedule, featuring a mix of new series and returning favorites. The lineup includes two major premieres, ‘Boston Blue’ and ‘Sheriff Country,’ along with established hits such as ‘Fire Country’ and various NCIS entries. Premiere week kicks off on October 12, setting the stage for a series of exciting programming changes aimed at viewers who enjoy franchise shows and reality competitions.
New York — CBS unveiled its full fall 2025–2026 broadcast schedule, announcing premiere dates for a mix of returning series and several new shows that will join the network this season. The schedule places established hits alongside multiple spinoffs and new comedies and dramas, and keeps several nights centered on franchise programming.
What’s most important
The network confirmed premiere dates and night-by-night lineups for the fall season, including a focus on franchise blocks and reality competition programming. Key highlights include the launch of two new series on October 17—Boston Blue (a spinoff of Blue Bloods) and Sheriff Country—and a premiere week kickoff on October 12 featuring sneak peeks of returning series. The schedule also cements a Tuesday All NCIS night and a traditional Sunday lineup headlined by reality staples.
New series and spinoffs
The fall slate adds several new scripted series and spinoffs to the roster. Boston Blue expands the Blue Bloods universe and brings Donnie Wahlberg’s character into the Boston Police Department. CIA, an offshoot of the FBI franchise, stars Tom Ellis and will join the drama offerings. The network is also adding a workplace comedy titled DMV, produced in single-camera format.
Returning series and franchise nights
Multiple renewed series are set to return in the fall. Fire Country returns for a fourth season and will be paired with the new series Sheriff Country as part of a programming block. Legal and crime dramas Matlock and Elsbeth are scheduled to return with their second and third seasons, respectively, and will be featured during premiere-week previews. Reality competition staples will anchor the Sunday lineup, with Survivor Season 49 and The Amazing Race Season 38 among the highlighted premieres.
Nightly structure and key nights
The schedule emphasizes consistent night-by-night themes. Tuesdays are designated as All NCIS night, where NCIS Season 23 will be followed by NCIS: Origins Season 2 and NCIS: Sydney Season 3. Sundays will continue to feature high-profile reality premieres, while other nights will mix established dramas with new scripted entries. The network’s approach is to pair familiar franchises with new series to help lead audiences into early episodes.
Premiere week and special events
Premiere week begins October 12 with sneak previews of Matlock and Elsbeth. Two notable broadcast specials occur before fall premieres: the Emmy Awards on September 14 and a Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire on September 21. Some series and spinoffs are planned for midseason, including Y: Marshals (a spinoff of Yellowstone) and Harlan Coben’s Final Twist, which are expected to debut later in the broadcast year.
Reality and competition programming
Reality programming remains a pillar of the Sunday schedule and broader fall plans. Survivor and The Amazing Race join other competition shows to anchor weekend viewing. In addition, The Golden Bachelor returns for a second season, adding another reality series to the lineup and further balancing scripted offerings with unscripted programming.
Scheduling strategy and context
The announced schedule demonstrates a dual strategy of expanding franchise universes while maintaining long-running series that deliver stable audiences. By placing new spinoffs adjacent to established hits and grouping franchise entries on single nights, the network aims to create appointment viewing blocks to help launch new titles. Midseason additions and specialty event programming are intended to sustain viewer interest beyond the initial fall premieres.
What to expect in the coming months
Viewers should expect premiere previews starting October 12 and major new and returning series rolling out through October and into midseason. Specific episode counts and weekly time slots were outlined in the full schedule; however, key premiere dates to note are October 12 for premiere-week sneak peeks and October 17 for the series debuts of Boston Blue and Sheriff Country. Detailed lineups for each night will be available as the season approaches and may be subject to change.
Additional details
The full schedule integrates scripted dramas, comedies, reality competitions, and specialty events. Several midseason and later-season debuts are planned, adding flexibility to the schedule over the broadcast year. The overall approach keeps franchise programming at the core of several nights while introducing new series that expand existing universes and add original formats.
FAQ
When does CBS’s fall 2025 schedule begin?
Premiere-week sneak peeks begin October 12, 2025. Major series premieres follow in mid-October, with key new series launching on October 17, 2025.
Which new series are joining the lineup?
Notable new series include Boston Blue, DMV, and CIA. Additional midseason spinoffs include Y: Marshals and Harlan Coben’s Final Twist.
What are the key returning series?
Returning series include Fire Country (Season 4), Matlock (Season 2), Elsbeth (Season 3), and multiple NCIS franchise entries.
When is All NCIS night?
Tuesdays are designated for the NCIS franchise, featuring NCIS Season 23, NCIS: Origins Season 2, and NCIS: Sydney Season 3.
Are there special events before the fall premieres?
Yes. The Emmy Awards are scheduled for September 14, 2025, and a Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire is scheduled for September 21, 2025.
Quick reference: Key dates and lineup highlights
| Date | Event / Show | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2025 | Emmy Awards | Special broadcast ahead of fall premieres |
| September 21, 2025 | Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire | Music special on the network |
| October 12, 2025 | Premiere week kickoff | Sneak peeks of Matlock and Elsbeth |
| October 17, 2025 | Boston Blue; Sheriff Country | Series premieres of two new dramas |
| Tuesdays (Fall) | All NCIS night | NCIS S23, NCIS: Origins S2, NCIS: Sydney S3 |
| Sundays (Fall) | Reality lineup | Survivor S49 and The Amazing Race S38 headline |
| Midseason | Y: Marshals; Harlan Coben’s Final Twist | Spinoffs and limited-series debuts expected later in the season |
| Fall 2025 | Fire Country (S4) | Paired with Sheriff Country as part of a programming block |
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Additional Resources
- Boston.com: 2025 Fall TV Premiere Dates
- Wikipedia: Television Schedule
- TV Insider: CBS Fall 2025-2026 TV Shows
- Google Search: Fall 2025 TV Schedule
- Us Magazine: Fall 2025 TV Schedule
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Television
- Variety: Blue Bloods Spinoff
- Google News: Blue Bloods Spinoff
- Hollywood Reporter: Blue Bloods Spinoff Premiere
- Deadline: CBS Fall Premiere Dates 2025
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