NCIS Renewed for Ninth Season

LOS ANGELES: NCIS has been renewed by CBS for the 2011-12 season, taking it into its ninth installment.

Since its debut in 2003, NCIS has been steadily increasing its ratings, becoming a top ten program in its fifth season. The show finished 2008-09 as fifth among all prime-time programs. Last season, NCIS ranked fourth among all programs and was the number one scripted drama program on TV, with an average of 18.89 million viewers. Currently in its eighth season, NCIS continues to be the number one drama/scripted series. This season, the show is averaging 19.6 million viewers.

"It’s simply amazing that a show in its eighth season continues to perform at such an elite level," said Nina Tassler, the president of CBS Entertainment. "This is a tribute to the hard work of its talented writers, producers and cast for bringing to life such compelling stories and characters with intrigue and humor. The quality of the storytelling is also evident by the series’ incredibly devoted fan base who we thank for their passion and commitment to NCIS on CBS, in online communities and around the world."

"NCIS has become a network phenomenon and a global sensation," added David Stapf, the president of CBS Television Studios. "The show continues to hit audience peaks on CBS and is a top performer in territories around the world. We thank an amazing cast, led by Mark Harmon, which has undeniable chemistry, for bringing to life characters with such amazing universal appeal. And, we credit Shane (Brennan) and Gary (Glasberg) for the storytelling and production vision that delivers compelling episodes every week and a fresh creative vision every year."