After Some Of CBS’ Biggest Shows Experienced Ratings Drops In 2024, Here’s How Justin Hartley’s Tracker Did In Its New Time Slot

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As a die-hard fan of quality television and a connoisseur of Justin Hartley’s acting prowess, I can confidently say that I’ve never been more thrilled to see ratings numbers than I am now with the success of Tracker. After bidding farewell to the beloved Pearsons of This Is Us, I wasn’t sure if my heart could handle another emotional rollercoaster, but Hartley has proven once again that he can captivate audiences.

It’s a testament to his talent and the gripping storylines that Tracker has not only managed to maintain its stellar ratings from Season 1 but also grow its audience despite a time slot change. The fact that it’s now broadcast television’s most-watched scripted series is nothing short of amazing.

I must admit, I did have my doubts when the network decided to move Tracker to the 8 p.m. ET slot on Sundays. But just like how Hartley always finds a way to surprise us with his performances, the show has proven that it’s more than capable of holding its own against some of CBS’ other heavy hitters.

I can already hear the naysayers saying, “But what about The Equalizer? Didn’t it drop by 18% with the time slot swap?” Well, my friends, that just goes to show you can’t judge a show by its drop-off rate. After all, one man’s drop is another man’s growth, right?

I’m eagerly awaiting the return of Tracker in the new year and am excited to see how it fares with Morris Chestnut’s Watson joining the Sunday lineup. I can only hope that the medical drama with a Sherlock Holmes-esque slant will be as addictive as Hartley’s series, although perhaps not quite reaching the same ratings highs as when he was fresh off of This Is Us.

In the meantime, I’ll be rewatching earlier episodes of Tracker on Paramount+ and reminding myself that life is like a tracker – filled with twists, turns, and the occasional heart-stopping moment. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, something unexpected happens to remind you that the journey is far from over.

Joke: I guess what they say is true – if you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, it was meant to be yours. In this case, I let go of This Is Us, and boy did Tracker come back!

The series “Tracker” was an instant success for CBS when it debuted during the 2024 TV season, with Justin Hartley rapidly establishing himself as a leading actor following his tenure on “This Is Us.” However, it remained uncertain if the drama would maintain its impressive viewership ratings into its second season, particularly after the network switched its airing time. As the 2025 TV schedule approached, the ratings for some of CBS’ top shows experienced a decline… but not “Tracker.

Justin Hartley’s show, “Tracker,” continues to dominate as the most-watched scripted series on broadcast television and top-rated drama, according to TVLine. This is based on the total number of viewers after a week of viewing (Live+7) and the rating in the 18-49 age group. In its second season so far, “Tracker” has an average audience of 11.4 million viewers with a rating of 0.82. Although these numbers might seem confusing, it’s significant to know that the viewership of “Tracker” increased by 6% when it shifted from Sunday evening to air at 8 p.m. ET before “The Equalizer,” instead of after. Conversely, “The Equalizer” saw a drop of 18% due to this time slot change.

Justin Hartley’s show maintains its success in Season 2, bucking the trend of sophomore slumps commonly seen among long-running series. In contrast, some of CBS’ top-rated shows like NCIS, FBI: Most Wanted, and Fire Country have experienced a decrease in ratings during the fall schedule of the 2024-2025 TV season. NCIS has dropped by 21% compared to last year, while FBI: Most Wanted and Fire Country are down by 12%. These shows, along with others, can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription.

Regarding freshman series in established franchises, “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” has a viewership 14% smaller than “Young Sheldon,” whereas “NCIS: Origins” maintains a lower audience retention compared to “NCIS” than “NCIS: Hawai’i” did before it was canceled, but only by 1%. Carrie Preston’s “Elsbeth” is the only returning scripted show mentioned by TVLine that has seen an increase from the previous season, with a growth of 4%. In terms of the show that introduced Kathy Bates to television, “Matlock” is outperforming all other CBS competition except for “Tracker.

As a longtime television enthusiast with over two decades of watching and analyzing shows under my belt, I must say that the shift from 9 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET on Sundays has not negatively impacted “Tracker” during its second season. In fact, it seems to be thriving in this time slot and will continue to do so once it returns for its winter premiere next year.

However, a change is brewing for CBS Sundays, as Morris Chestnut’s medical drama “Watson,” with a Sherlock Holmes-inspired twist, is set to air between “Tracker” and “The Equalizer” following the show’s premiere on January 26. Based on my experience and knowledge of successful shows, I wouldn’t be surprised if “Watson” becomes another breakout hit of the winter premiere season like “Tracker.”

That being said, it may not quite reach the same ratings highs as when Milo Ventimiglia was fresh off of the fan-favorite series “This Is Us.” Nonetheless, I’m excited to see what the future holds for both shows and how they will entertain audiences in their respective time slots.

Enthusiasts of the show “Tracker” have a lot to rejoice about, as not only does it maintain its impressive ratings, but it also managed to sidestep the decrease in viewership that affected certain CBS series during the fall season. The series starring Justin Hartley will return to primetime on Sunday, February 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. If you can’t wait that long, feel free to catch up with earlier episodes by streaming them through Paramount+.

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2024-12-31 08:37