Survivor’ Gets Early Launch, But CBS Moves the Rest of Fall Premieres to Mid-October

By Michael Schneider

According To The variety)  CBS isn’t eager for summer to end. The Eye network has opted to push its premiere week — normally held the third week of September — to mid-October, with one big exception: “Survivor.”

The landmark unscripted series is indeed CBS’ sole September “Survivor,” premiering its 47th season on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. ET. CBS will also air sneak peeks of two more entertainment series during the month: Newbie “Matlock,” starring Kathy Bates, will get an special early premiere on Sunday, Sept. 22, while new competition skein “The Summit” will also get a Sunday sneak, on Sept. 29.

But for the most part, CBS will wait until the week of October 14 to take the bow off its fall 2024 primetime package. In doing so, it runs the risk of competing for attention right when the presidential campaign could be at its apex.

But the network is hoping that an extra month of promotion during NFL football games might juice its premieres. It’s also hoping that mid-October launch will enable a more concentrated launch and eventize the week — something it did successfully in February when its post-Hollywood strikes schedule was launched. CBS will use football and the season premiere of “60 Minutes” on Sept. 22 in order to promote the sneak peek of “Matlock” (which then returns in its regular Thursday slot on Oct. 17). And the Eye has an NFL doubleheader on Sept. 29 that it hopes will draw eyeballs to the special sneak of the action adventure reality entry “The Summit,” hosted by Manu Bennett. (That show moves to its Wednesday slot on Oct. 16.)

Another NFL doubleheader on Oct. 27 will be utilized to help bolster the Season 2 premiere of hit “Tracker.” Meanwhile, CBS favorites like the “FBI” series trio return Oct. 15, while “Blue Bloods” begins its final episodic run on Oct. 18.

CBS’ premiere week kicks off on Monday, Oct. 14 with the Season 22 premiere of “NCIS,” followed by a two-hour launch for spin-off “NCIS: Origins” at 9 p.m.

Here is CBS’ fall roll-out plans:

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18

8 p.m. — “Survivor” (Two-hour 47th season premiere; shifts to regular 90-minute format on Sept. 25)

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21

9 p.m. — “48 Hours” (Two hour 37th season premiere; shifts to one-hour 10 p.m. slot on Sept. 28)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 22

7 p.m. — “60 Minutes” (57th season premiere)

8 p.m. — “Matlock” (sneak peek; regular 9 p.m. Thursday timeslot begins Oct. 17)

SUNDAY, SEPT. 29

7 p.m. ET — Continuation of “NFL on CBS” doubleheader

7:30 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT — “60 Minutes” (90 minute episode)

9 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT — “The Summit” (sneak peek; regular 9:30 p.m. Wednesday timeslot begins Oct. 16)

10:30 p.m. ET/10 p.m. PT — “Big Brother” (original episode)

SUNDAY, OCT. 6

7 p.m. — Continuation of “NFL on CBS” doubleheader

8 p.m. — American Music Awards

10 p.m. — “Big Brother” (original episode)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9

8 p.m. — “Survivor”

9:30 p.m. — “The Summit” (repeat of first episode)

THURSDAY, OCT. 10

8 p.m. — “Big Brother” (original episode)

9 p.m. — “Matlock” (repeat of first episode)

10 p.m. — “Elsbeth” (repeat)

SUNDAY, OCT. 13

7 p.m. — “60 Minutes” (90 minute episode)

8:30 p.m. — “Big Brother” (90 minute season finale)

CBS PREMIERE WEEK – MONDAY, OCT. 14

8 p.m. — “NCIS” (22nd season premiere; regular 9 p.m. timeslot begins Monday, Oct. 21)

9 p.m. — “NCIS: Origins” (two-hour series premiere; regular 10 p.m. timeslot begins Monday, Oct. 21)

TUESDAY, OCT. 15

8 p.m. — “FBI” (seventh season premiere)

9 p.m. — “FBI: International” (fourth season premiere)

10 p.m. — “FBI: Most Wanted” (sixth season premiere)

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16

8 p.m. — “Survivor”

9:30 p.m. — “The Summit” (second episode)

THURSDAY, OCT. 17

8 p.m. — “George & Mandy’s First Marriage” (series premiere)

8:30 p.m. — “Ghosts” (fourth season premiere)

9 p.m. — “Matlock” (second episode)

10 p.m. — “Elsbeth” (second season premiere)

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

8 p.m. — “S.W.A.T.” (eighth season premiere)

9 p.m. — “Fire Country” (third season premiere)

10 p.m. — “Blue Bloods” (return of remaining episodes of 14th final season)

MONDAY, OCT. 21

8 p.m. — “The Neighborhood” (seventh season premiere)

8:30 p.m. — “Poppa’s House” (series premiere)

9 p.m. — “NCIS”

10 p.m. — “NCIS: Origins”

SUNDAY, OCT. 27

7:00 p.m. ET — Continuation of “NFL on CBS” doubleheader

7:30 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT — “60 Minutes”

8:30 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT — “Tracker” (second season premiere; regular 8 p.m. timeslot begins Sunday, Nov. 3)

9:30 p.m. ET/ 9 p.m. PT — “The Equalizer” (fifth season premiere; regular 9 p.m. timeslot begins Sunday, Nov. 3)

Meanwhile, midseason entries on deck include the return of “The Amazing Race,” as well as new drama “Watson” and the gamer “Hollywood Squares.”