2024 has brought a mix of news for the NCIS franchise. On the bright side, the flagship show was renewed for Season 22, NCIS: Sydney secured a Season 2 renewal, and two new spinoffs are on the horizon: the prequel NCIS: Origins, debuting on CBS in 2024, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, available exclusively to Paramount+ subscribers. However, the franchise also faced a setback with the cancellation of NCIS: Hawai’i after three seasons. This has left fans puzzled about why Hawai’i was axed while Sydney continues, with some clues suggesting why Paramount favored the latter.
The NCIS Franchise’s Popularity in Australia
Even before NCIS: Sydney premiered, the franchise had already garnered significant popularity in Australia. Dan Monaghan, Senior Vice President Content & Programming at Paramount ANZ, emphasized this at the Screen Forever 2023 event. Monaghan noted that his “boss” had long envisioned an Australian version of NCIS, a vision that finally came to fruition with Sydney.
Additionally, CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach mentioned that the renewal of Sydney for a second season helped bolster the “global power of the NCIS franchise.” This suggests that Sydney attracted more international viewers compared to Hawai’i, making it a more attractive option for continuation.
Production Costs: Hawai’i vs. Sydney
Reports indicated that NCIS: Hawai’i faced significant budget constraints if it had moved forward with a fourth season. The show would have required substantial budget cuts, potentially reducing the episode count to around 13 instead of the usual 22. Despite the producers agreeing to these and other concessions, CBS decided to cancel the show.
Although Hawai’i and Sydney had similar ratings, it’s believed that the Australian spinoff was less expensive to produce. This budgetary advantage, combined with Sydney’s broader international appeal, likely influenced Paramount’s decision to continue Sydney while ending Hawai’i. This choice has disappointed fans and cast members alike, with Jason Antoon, a star of Hawai’i, expressing frustration on social media and highlighting that the series ranked No. 16 in total viewers for the 2023-2024 TV season.
As of now, none of the NCIS shows, established or upcoming, have set premiere dates. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest updates, and visit Paramount+ to catch up on all of the franchise’s offerings.
