CBS is making significant changes to its primetime schedule for the 2026-2027 television season, moving several established series from the fall lineup to a midseason premiere. Among the shows affected are the Australian-set procedural NCIS: Sydney and the comedy Ghosts. The network has not provided specific reasons for the moves but such scheduling shifts are often strategic, allowing networks to launch new shows in the fall and use returning hits to bolster viewership later in the season.
The schedule adjustment was confirmed by CBS in its official 2026-2027 programming announcement. The move of NCIS: Sydney is notable as the show, a franchise extension filmed in Australia, had been a recent addition to the network's lineup. The new schedule will see the debut of several new series in the fall, including a reboot of the classic legal drama Matlock, starring Kathy Bates.
Industry analysts suggest that moving proven performers like Ghosts to midseason can help maintain audience momentum throughout the broadcast year. CBS has stated that specific premiere dates for the midseason shows will be announced at a later time. The network's fall 2026 schedule will be anchored by other returning staples and new programming.
