CBS‘ freshman drama “Marshals,” the first broadcast installment in Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” franchise, is tracking to be this TV season’s most-watched broadcast series, as well as the most-watched series across all of television, broadcast or streaming.
That’s according to the latest ranker of season-to-date live plus 28-day multiplatform viewership, as shared with CBS on Wednesday (timed to the Eye network’s fall schedule announcement later today).
“Marshals” has performed well for CBS since its launch on March 1. The show opened as the largest for a scripted broadcast series premiere in more than seven years, excluding titles that benefitted from airing directly after NFL games.
Overall, the final season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” remains the most-watched series of the season, with 30.6 million viewers after 28 days, followed by the “Marshals” premiere with 26.5 million (granted, that number is averaged from just one premiere episode and could change with more episodes eventually averaged in) and then Netflix’s “His & Hers” (24.2 million).
CBS sent out the ratings data to tout that its series make up six of the top 20 most-watched series among all broadcast and streaming competition – beating its broadcast competition.
The Eye noted that it currently boasts eight series that attract more than 10 million multiplatform viewers after 28 days: “Marshals,” “Tracker,” “CIA,” “Matlock,” “Sheriff Country,” “Ghosts,” “Survivor” and “NCIS.”
“Marshals” is the first broadcast series in the “Yellowstone” franchise, which has previously aired on the Paramount Network and Paramount+. Produced by Paramount TV Studios and 101 Studios, the series sees “Yellowstone” actor Luke Grimes reprise the role of Kayce Dutton “as he joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana,” per the official logline.
Here is the most recent season-to-date series ratings ranker (excluding sports and programs with four or fewer episodes), according to Nielsen data as supplied by CBS:
Linear and Streaming Total Viewers, Season to Date (Sept. 14, 2025 to March 1, 2026)
| Rank | Title (Network/SVOD) | 28-Day Multiplatform viewers |
| 1. | Stranger Things (Netflix) | 30.6 million |
| 2. | Marshals (CBS/ Paramount+) | 26.5 million |
| 3. | His & Hers (Netflix) | 24.2 million |
| 4. | Sean Combs The Reckoning (Netflix) | 19.7 million |
| 5. | Landman (Paramount+) | 18.9 million |
| 6. | Bridgerton (Netflix) | 17.2 million |
| 7. | Tracker (CBS/ Paramount+) | 16.4 million |
| 8. | High Potential (ABC/ Hulu) | 15.7 million |
| 9. | Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix) | 12.9 million |
| 10. | The Pitt (HBO Max) | 12.6 million |
| 11. | Fallout (Prime Video) | 12.5 million |
| 12. | The Beast In Me (Netflix) | 11.8 million |
| 13. | CIA (CBS/ Paramount+) | 11.7 million |
| Matlock (CBS/ Paramount+) | 11.7 million | |
| 15. | The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix) | 10.8 million |
| 16. | The Rookie (ABC/ Hulu) | 10.7 million |
| Scrubs (ABC/ Hulu) | 10.7 million | |
| Sheriff Country (CBS/ Paramount+) | 10.7 million | |
| 19. | Will Trent (ABC/ Hulu) | 10.5 million |
| 20. | Ghosts (CBS/ Paramount+) | 10.3 million |
Source: Analysis of Nielsen Multiplatform Data; Big Data P2+ Prime AA, L+28, 9/14-3/1/2026 + Nielsen SCR, 28-Day Total Flight for streaming. Excludes all sports, encores, OTO telecasts and limited series with less than four telecasts.
CBS Sets Fall Dates for ‘Marshals,’ ‘Survivor’ and More
CBS has set its fall premiere dates, and as has been the case for the past few seasons, most of the network’s lineup will launch in early October.
Reality staples Survivor and The Amazing Race will debut a bit earlier, as will 60 Minutes. But all of CBS’ scripted series are set to premiere over six days starting Oct. 4. Marshals and Tracker — the two most watched shows on network TV last season, excluding live sports — are up first that night, remaining in the Sunday night spots they occupied last season.
FBI and CIA follow on Oct. 5, with each show moving up an hour (to 8 and 9 p.m. ET/PT) from their spots last season as CBS eliminated its Monday comedy block for 2026-27. True crime show Harlan Coben’s Final Twist follows at 10 p.m.
An all-NCIS lineup remains on Tuesday nights starting Oct. 6, with newcomer NCIS: New York sandwiched between the flagship series and prequel NCIS: Origins. CBS’ two other new fall series, comedy Eternally Yours and drama Cupertino, premiere Oct. 8 along with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Elsbeth. Ghosts and Matlock are set for midseason premieres, but a pair of Ghosts specials will air on Oct. 29 and Dec. 10 tied to Halloween and Christmas. The Friday lineup of Sheriff Country, Fire Country and Boston Blue debuts Oct. 9.
CBS’ fall premiere dates are below. All times are ET/PT unless noted, and new shows are marked with an asterisk.
Sunday, Sept. 13
7:30 p.m.: 60 Minutes (approximate; follows NFL doubleheader)
Wednesday, Sept. 23
8 p.m.: Survivor
Wednesday, Sept. 30
9:30 p.m.: The Amazing Race
Sunday, Oct. 4
8:30 p.m.: Marshals (approximate; follows NFL doubleheader and 60 Minutes)
9:30 p.m.: Tracker
Monday, Oct. 5
8 p.m.: FBI
9 p.m.: CIA
10 p.m.: Harlan Coben’s Final Twist
Tuesday, Oct. 6
8 p.m.: NCIS
9 p.m.: NCIS: New York*
10 p.m.: NCIS: Origins
Thursday, Oct. 8
8 p.m.: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
8:30 p.m.: Eternally Yours*
9 p.m.: Elsbeth
10 p.m.: Cupertino*
Friday, Oct. 9
8 p.m.: Sheriff Country
9 p.m.: Fire Country
10 p.m.: Boston Blue
Saturday, Oct. 10
10 p.m.: 48 Hours
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