‘Tracker,’ ‘Elsbeth’ Show Strong Multi-Platform Gains for CBS in Early Ratings Returns

Early returns on a number of CBS series show audiences finding them — in pretty large numbers.

It’s a small sample size, to be sure: The numbers below represent the first few weeks of the season (Sept. 15-Oct. 21), and most of the network’s scripted series premiered in the last of those weeks. In that timeframe, however, the premieres (and in a few cases, subsequent episodes) of eight CBS shows racked up audiences of more than 10 million viewers after a week of cross-platform viewing.

Among those with more than one episode are Tracker (last season’s top non-sports network series) and Matlock, both of which put up strong showings for their season premieres. With one extra episode apiece, the two shows are averaging 15.2 million (Tracker) and 13.2 million (Matlock) viewers over seven days, leading the network.

The other shows that crossed the 10 million-viewer mark for their season or series premieres are FBI (11 million), Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (10.7 million), NCIS (10.5 million), Elsbeth (10.5 million), Fire Country (10.3 million) and Blue Bloods (10 million). All figures are based on linear viewing measured by VideoAmp (which CBS is using during a contract dispute with Nielsen) and internal streaming data for Paramount+, CBS.com and the CBS app.

Two other shows, 60 Minutes and Survivor, are each at 9 million or more viewers (with six and five episodes), and the premiere of NCIS: Origins clocks in at 8.9 million viewers.

Tracker is currently running 18 percent ahead of its seven-day, cross-platform average for last season, and Elsbeth is up by 26 percent (though again, the sample size is small). For all of primetime, CBS is running 2 percent a head of the 2023-24 season in multi-platform viewing.