‘Tracker’ Renewed for New Season at CBS

The Justin Hartley-led drama launched less than a month ago in TV’s best time slot: after the Super Bowl.

CBS has found its first series renewal for the 2024-25 broadcast season, announcing that the Justin Hartley-led drama, Tracker, will return for a second season. The series, which premiered on February 11 in television’s coveted post-Super Bowl time slot, has quickly become a top-rated show. According to Nielsen’s latest data, Tracker boasts 16 million multiplatform viewers, making it the most-watched new series on CBS since the debut of Young Sheldon, the Big Bang Theory prequel, during the 2017-18 season.

“Tracker kicked off our premiere week with a ratings bang and has kept the momentum going,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “We knew we had something special when we saw the very first cut of the series, and the overwhelming audience response confirms it. We couldn’t be more grateful to Justin, the talented cast, the incredible writing and producing teams, and our partners at 20th Television for such compelling episodes. And, of course, we’re also so thankful to the millions of viewers tuning in each week.”

Formerly known as The Never Game and based on the best-selling novel by Jeffery Deaver, Tracker was ordered to series in late 2022. CBS had placed the project in development in late 2021, with Justin Hartley attached to star and executive produce. The series’ successful launch and subsequent renewal are indicative of CBS’s commitment to year-round development, moving away from the traditional pilot season. This strategy allows for a more measured and creative approach to series development, avoiding the costly and often rushed production schedules that characterize the typical three-month pilot season.

Tracker represents a significant collaboration between CBS and Disney’s 20th Television, which produces the series under Hartley’s overall deal with the studio. This deal follows the success of Hartley’s previous hit series, This Is Us. The production team for Tracker includes Hartley, Ken Olin, Elwood Reid, and Ben Winters as executive producers. The show’s high production values and compelling storytelling have been instrumental in its strong performance and enthusiastic audience reception.

The renewal of Tracker is a positive sign for CBS’s strategic direction. As the network adapts to the evolving broadcast landscape, it has focused on developing strong, year-round content rather than concentrating its resources on a compressed pilot season. This approach not only helps new shows find their creative footing but also ensures a steady stream of fresh content for viewers.

Tracker‘s renewal is a significant win for CBS in the strikes-impacted 2023-24 season. It is one of only two rookie originals to launch this season, alongside Elsbeth, which premiered last week. The successful launch and quick renewal of Tracker highlight the network’s ability to deliver compelling new content even amidst industry disruptions.

The impressive viewership numbers for Tracker underscore its immediate impact and strong audience appeal. Premiering after the Super Bowl provided the series with an unparalleled promotional platform, but it is the show’s engaging narrative and strong performances that have sustained its high ratings. The series’ ability to attract and maintain a large audience is a testament to its quality and the effective promotional strategies employed by CBS.

As CBS wraps up long-running series such as Blue Bloods, Bob Hearts Abishola, SWAT, and Young Sheldon this year, the renewal of Tracker provides a fresh and exciting addition to its lineup. This renewal reflects CBS’s confidence in the show’s potential for continued success and its commitment to providing viewers with high-quality entertainment.

Tracker‘s renewal also serves as an encouraging sign for other new and upcoming series. It demonstrates that CBS is willing to invest in promising new projects and support them through their development and growth phases. This strategy is likely to yield a diverse and engaging slate of programming that can compete effectively in the increasingly competitive broadcast environment.

The renewal of Tracker for a second season marks an important milestone for CBS as it navigates the challenges and opportunities of modern broadcast television. With its strong ratings, talented cast, and dedicated creative team, Tracker is well-positioned to continue its success in the 2024-25 broadcast season. The show’s renewal is a testament to the hard work and creativity of everyone involved in its production and a clear indicator of CBS’s commitment to delivering top-notch content to its viewers. As the network continues to adapt and innovate, Tracker stands out as a shining example of what can be achieved with the right combination of talent, strategy, and audience engagement.

CBS has found its first series renewal for the 2024-25 broadcast season.

The network has renewed Tracker, its Justin Hartley-led drama, for a second season. The series launched Feb. 11 in TV’s best time slot — after the Super Bowl — and now ranks as the No. 1 show, according to Nielsen’s most current data, with 16 million multiplatform viewers. The network says Tracker is its most watched new series since Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon debuted in the 2017-18 season.

“Tracker kicked off our premiere week with a ratings bang and has kept the momentum going,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “We knew we had something special when we saw the very first cut of the series and the overwhelming audience response confirms it. We couldn’t be more grateful to Justin, the talented cast, the incredible writing and producing teams and our partners at 20th Television for such compelling episodes. And, of course, we’re also so thankful to the millions of viewers tuning in each week.”

Formerly known as The Never Game and based on the best-selling novel by Jeffery Deaver, Tracker was ordered to series in late 2022 after CBS put the project, with Hartley attached to star and exec produce, in development in late 2021. The renewal should be considered a positive sign of CBS’ commitment to year-round development as broadcast continues to focus on the strategy instead of spending millions of dollars on multiple pilots in a three-month time span that often doesn’t allow programs to find their creative footing.

The series is also a win for Disney, whose 20th Television produces Tracker as part of Hartley’s overall deal with the studio, behind the actor’s former hit series This Is Us. Hartley, Ken Olin, Elwood Reid and Ben Winters executive produce.

Tracker is CBS’ first series to be renewed for the 2024-25 broadcast cycle. The show is one of only two rookie originals to launch as part of the strikes-impacted 2023-24 season, with Elsbeth having launched last week. The pickup comes as CBS is wrapping Blue Bloods, Bob Hearts Abishola, SWAT and Young Sheldon this year. Keep up with all the scripted renewals, cancellations and new show orders with THR’s handy scorecard here