Copyright Variety
“Tracker” is back, and so are the hit CBS drama’s viewers. The Justin Hartley starrer returned on Oct. 19 with 12.97 million viewers, according to Nielsen’s live+7-day multiplatform data. That was up 17% from the year-ago Season 2 premiere of “Tracker,” according to CBS. “Tracker” was one of four CBS shows to make the top 5 so far this fall according to the most recent multiplatform 7-day viewing chart for the 2025-2026 broadcast season (entertainment only, meaning sports — which still dominates primetime — isn’t included). CBS waited until mid October to bring back the majority of its scripted series, dubbing the week of Oct. 12 “CBS Premiere Week.” Besides “Tracker,” shows performing well so far include “Matlock,” which is averaging 10.7 million viewers after two episodes; perennial newsmag “60 Minutes,” with 8.9 million viewers after four episodes; and newcomer “Boston Blue,” the “Blue Bloods” spinoff that opened on Oct. 17 with 8.64 million viewers. That “Boston Blue” number was up 6% vs. the year-ago “Blue Bloods” season average. Among other series premieres, the Oct. 17 premiere of “Sheriff Country” (a spinoff of “Fire Country”) averaged 7.73 million viewers (up 35% from the season average last year of previous timeslot holder “S.W.A.T.”), while new comedy “DMV” launched on Oct. 13 with 6.6 million viewers, up 46% from the season average of last year’s time slot holder “Poppa’s House.” Among other CBS returnees, the Season 23 premiere of “NCIS” averaged 8.6 million viewers; the Season 5 premiere of “Ghosts” averaged 8.27 million viewers; and the first two episodes of “Elsbeth” Season 3 averaged 8.26 million viewers. Also: The Season 2 premiere of comedy “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” averaged 7.85 million viewers and the Season 8 premiere of “FBI” averaged 7.58 million viewerts. Thanks to the return of those series, according to CBS it now leads the fall in live+7 ratings for entertainment fare, averaging 6.8 million viewers in total multiplatform numbers, followed by ABC (6.5 million), NBC (5.7 million) and Fox (3.1 million).
