For five years, NCIS held an impressive TV record, and the fact that it’s now been broken by a new series makes CBS’s latest hit even more remarkable. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, NCIS is technically a spin-off of JAG — a detail often overlooked given the show’s long tenure. Currently the third-longest-running scripted series, trailing only NBC’s Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU, NCIS has weathered numerous changes over its two-decade run. Remarkably, it has consistently remained at the top of the ratings chart.
In recent years, the way people consume media has evolved significantly. The rise of various streaming services, alongside the ongoing development of cable projects, has compelled network TV to adapt in order to stay competitive. Despite these shifting entertainment landscapes, the 2023-2024 ratings data reveals that traditional broadcasts still reign supreme, with NCIS season 21 being one of the most-watched shows on television. However, unlike the past five years, there’s now a new leader in viewership shares, dethroning the long-standing procedural from the top spot.