Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated

Cbs

CBS is the dominant U.S. broadcast network acquiring procedural dramas, broad comedies, and franchise extensions for primetime, with a development slate anchored by returnable series and established creative teams.

Current mandate

CBS enters the current development cycle as the most-watched broadcast network in the U.S., leaning hard into the franchise architecture that has sustained its primetime ratings. The spring 2026 pickup order included four new scripted series, among them "NCIS: New York," a spinoff in which LL Cool J reprises his role as special agent Sam Hanna, underscoring the network's continued investment in the NCIS universe as a cornerstone of its drama strategy. Alongside that franchise extension, CBS ordered the Silicon Valley-set legal drama "Cupertino" from executive producers Robert and Michelle King, signaling that the network remains open to fresh procedural voices when the creative pedigree is established.

The acquisition pattern across the past 12-plus months reflects a deliberate balance between drama and comedy. On the comedy side, CBS ordered "Einstein," a comedy-drama starring Matthew Gray Gubler and Melissa Fumero about the great-grandson of Albert Einstein, and "Eternally Yours," a vampire-themed comedy from the executive producers behind CBS's version of "Ghosts." The daytime slate also saw confirmed season returns for long-running titles including "The Price Is Right," "Let's Make a Deal," "The Young and the Restless," "The Bold and the Beautiful," and the continuation of "Beyond the Gates." Distribution rights to "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" were also acquired, reinforcing CBS's grip on broad-appeal game show programming. Drama development is led by Bryan Seabury; comedy development by Kate Adler.

Material reaches CBS primarily through established creative relationships, packaging by major talent agencies, and attachments from recognized showrunners and A-list talent. The network's public-facing seeking statement emphasizes returnable franchise potential and established creative teams, and every tracked deal in the ScriptMatch dataset originated through professional representation or existing studio partnerships. No open submission portal or named fellowship program is documented in available data.

Signature peaks

  • NCIS: New York Franchise Drama Anchor — LL Cool J reprises his role as special agent Sam Hanna in the latest NCIS universe extension, ordered spring 2026.
  • Cupertino King Pedigree Legal Drama — Silicon Valley-set legal drama from Robert and Michelle King, ordered as part of the spring 2026 scripted slate.
  • Jeopardy! + Wheel of Fortune Game Show Rights Secured — CBS acquired distribution rights to both flagship game show titles, cementing its broad-appeal daytime and syndication position.

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
Reality, Game Show
Territory focus
Not disclosed
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
Every tracked CBS deal in the ScriptMatch dataset arrived through professional representation, established studio partnerships, or talent packaging by major agencies. The network's public seeking statement explicitly prioritizes established creative teams and A-list talent attachment; no open submission portal, named fellowship, or documented unsolicited pathway is on record.
Deal structure
CBS primarily orders scripted series directly from studio partners and production companies, acquiring broadcast rights as part of network development deals rather than purchasing completed films. Distribution rights acquisitions, such as the documented pickup of rights to "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune," also form part of its broader content strategy.

Recent acquisitions

  • 24 Hour Millionaire

    · ordered
    24 Hour Millionaire comes from Big Brother exec producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan's Fly on the Wall Entertainment.

  • Cupertino

    2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z · ordered
    Cupertino, a Silicon Valley-set legal drama from executive producers Robert and Michelle King

  • distribution rights to Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune

    2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • DMV

    2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • Einstein

    2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z · ordered
    Einstein, about the brilliant but directionless great-grandson of Albert Einstein, starring Matthew Gray Gubler and Melissa Fumero

  • Eternally Yours

    2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z · ordered
    vampire-themed comedy Eternally Yours, from the executive producers behind CBS's version of Ghosts

  • NCIS: New York

    2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z · ordered
    NCIS: New York, in which LL Cool J will reprise his role as special agent Sam Hanna, is one of four new scripted series on the CBS schedule

  • Stacks of Cash

    · ordered
    The show is based on a format developed by Australia's Eureka Studios Group and Seven Network; Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Rikkie Proost, Sonya Wilkes, David Tibballs, Ves D'Elia and Ed Egan executive produce.

Market context

CBS's spring 2026 pickup order signals a clear double-down on franchise IP, character-driven comedy, and the proven procedural formula that has defined its primetime dominance.

CBS enters the current development cycle as the most-watched broadcast network in the U.S., leaning hard into the franchise architecture that has sustained its primetime ratings. The spring 2026 pickup order included four new scripted series, among them "NCIS: New York," a spinoff in which LL Cool J reprises his role as special agent Sam Hanna, underscoring the network's continued investment in the NCIS universe as a cornerstone of its drama strategy. Alongside that franchise extension, CBS ordered the Silicon Valley-set legal drama "Cupertino" from executive producers Robert and Michelle King, signaling that the network remains open to fresh procedural voices when the creative pedigree is established.

Common questions about Cbs

Does CBS accept unsolicited scripts?

No unsolicited pathway is documented in ScriptMatch's tracked data. Every deal observed in the CBS dataset originated through professional representation, established studio partnerships, or talent packaging. The network's own seeking statement emphasizes established creative teams and A-list talent attachment, which strongly suggests material is expected to arrive through agents, managers, or recognized production partners rather than direct submission.

What budgets does CBS typically work at?

CBS operates at broadcast network scale, which typically means higher per-episode budgets than cable or streaming peers, though specific dollar figures are not disclosed in available deal records. The spring 2026 slate, including franchise drama 'NCIS: New York' and the King-produced legal drama 'Cupertino,' reflects investment in premium production values consistent with major network primetime standards.

What festivals does CBS source from?

CBS is a broadcast network, not a festival-circuit acquirer. Its development pipeline is driven by studio pitches, writer-producer relationships, and talent packaging rather than festival acquisitions. No festival-sourced deals appear in the ScriptMatch dataset for CBS. Writers and producers targeting CBS are better served by securing representation or attaching a recognized showrunner than by pursuing a festival premiere strategy.

How do I get my script in front of CBS?

Based on observed deal patterns, material reaches CBS through talent agencies, established production companies, and recognized showrunners. Drama development is led by Bryan Seabury and comedy development by Kate Adler, per the network's public-facing seeking statement. Attaching a producing partner with an existing CBS relationship, or signing with an agency that packages broadcast network projects, represents the most documented route into the development pipeline.

What genres is CBS currently acquiring?

CBS's spring 2026 orders confirm its core appetite: procedural drama (the legal drama 'Cupertino,' franchise extension 'NCIS: New York'), broad comedy ('Einstein,' 'Eternally Yours'), and long-running daytime formats. The network's seeking statement explicitly calls out procedural dramas and broad-appeal comedies with returnable franchise potential. Character-driven stories that can sustain multi-season runs are the clearest fit for the current mandate.

Is CBS currently active in the market?

Yes. CBS recorded 242 total activity signals in the past 12 months and placed four new scripted series orders in spring 2026 alone. The ScriptMatch dataset tracks 178 decision makers at the network, and the latest signal is dated September 2026. Daytime renewals, franchise drama extensions, and new comedy orders all confirm CBS is actively developing and acquiring across multiple formats and dayparts.

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Related reading

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