'NCIS' renewed by CBS, star Mark Harmon gets contract extension

Credit: CBS

CBS, the network that is pretty much the go-to network for crime procedurals, has locked down one of its cornerstone franchises for another season, including negotiating a contract extension with its star.

"NCIS" is TV's most-watched program, averaging an incredible 21.48 million viewers per week in this, its 10th season, while also earning a solid 4.2 rating in the key demographic of adults 18-49. The number is even better among adults 25-54, coming out to a strong 5.9. Even more astonishing, the series actually continues to grow from season to season, earning a 7 percent increase in viewership over this same time last year. Live+3 viewership hit all-time highs with 25.36 million viewers for the January 15 episode. The success of the series led to star Mark Harmon coming to terms for a contract extension, which will see him continuing on as Special Agent Leroy Gibbs for the show's 11th season.

Network CEO Les Moonves crowed about the renewal, and Harmon, in a press release:

"In a world gone niche, 'NCIS' keeps getting bigger, and Mark Harmon continues to define the role of leading man on the #1 show on television," stated Moonves, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the CBS Corporation. "'NCIS' is the type of franchise every company wants in today’s global content ecosystem -- high-quality storytelling that generates passionate viewers and drives revenue on every conceivable platform."

What's so remarkable about the show's success is that it was originally launched as a spinoff to a drama from another network entirely: NBC's "JAG". Now it's gone on to become more successful than its parent program ever was, producing spinoffs of its own, in "NCIS: Los Angeles", as well as a potential second spinoff series, the backdoor pilot for which will air as an episode of "NCIS: Los Angeles" later this spring.

"NCIS" first hit the top of the TV charts as the #1 scripted series in the 2009-2010 TV season. However, this is the show's first season in as TV's top show overall, even outdrawing Sunday Night Football. That's seriously an incredible accomplishment.

Full story: HitFix