Why Your Favorite CBS Shows Never Start on Time—And It’s Not Just NFL Overtime!
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
CBS Sundays have become synonymous with a frustrating scheduling pattern: Tracker, Watson, and The Equalizer, which are all slated to air during prime time, rarely start on time. Viewers have long noticed that these shows—airing at 8 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. ET, respectively—are almost always delayed. So, what’s causing these consistent delays, and why does CBS seem unable to stick to the advertised schedule? The answer, it turns out, has everything to do with the NFL broadcasts that precede the primetime programming.
The Root Cause: NFL Football Broadcasts
The primary culprit behind the delayed starts of Tracker, Watson, and The Equalizer is the NFL football broadcasts, which often air just before these shows. NFL games, which typically run in the late afternoon or early evening, are notoriously unpredictable in their length. Games can extend due to overtime, lengthy plays, or even extended halftime shows, and these unpredictable delays push back the entire evening’s lineup.
As multiple reports, including from US Weekly and AOL in April 2025, indicate, CBS is “home to football broadcasts,” which results in these cascading delays. The unpredictability of live sports causes a ripple effect, most notably impacting 60 Minutes—the show that serves as a lead-in to the drama series Tracker, Watson, and The Equalizer. Once 60 Minutes is delayed, the subsequent shows must follow suit.
The Domino Effect on the CBS Lineup
The delays begin with 60 Minutes, which is scheduled to air immediately before the primetime dramas. When NFL games run long, 60 Minutes is pushed back, which in turn causes Tracker, Watson, and The Equalizer to start late.
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Tracker (8 p.m. ET): The first show of the evening, starring Justin Hartley, is frequently delayed due to the extended NFL game, resulting in a later start.
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Watson (9 p.m. ET): The second show of the night, featuring Morris Chestnut, suffers from the same delay as the earlier programming, starting late due to the ripple effect from the NFL.
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The Equalizer (10 p.m. ET): The final show of the lineup, starring Queen Latifah, is often the most affected, as the cumulative delays of 60 Minutes and Tracker cause it to start later than scheduled.
This cascading effect means that CBS’s Sunday night lineup is regularly “pushed back,” causing frustration for viewers who might miss the beginning of their favorite shows.
Other Contributing Factors: Live Events
While the NFL is the primary reason for the delays, Tracker also faced additional interruptions in its first season due to other live events. For instance, during the airing of March Madness and the CMT Music Awards, delays were caused, though these occurrences were more sporadic. These events were not weekly but contributed to the overall scheduling challenges. However, it’s clear that these live events do not occur with the same regularity as the NFL, which remains the dominant factor in these delays.
The Impact on Viewers
These delays have significant consequences for viewers. Fans may miss the start of their favorite shows, requiring them to adjust their viewing habits or resort to streaming options like Paramount+, where they can catch up with episodes later. However, the appeal of live viewing—the immediacy and excitement of watching shows as they air—remains a key aspect of CBS’s primetime experience.
Despite the scheduling challenges, Tracker has achieved solid viewership, with an average of 18.2 million viewers per episode, and its Season 2 premiere drawing 8.3 million viewers. These numbers indicate that, despite the timing issues, the audience remains highly engaged with the programming.
A Breakdown of the Delays
To better understand how each show is impacted, here’s a detailed table summarizing the delay causes for each show:
| Show | Scheduled Time (ET) | Primary Delay Cause | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracker | 8 p.m. | NFL games running long, impacting 60 Minutes | First season delays also due to March Madness, CMT Music Awards |
| Watson | 9 p.m. | NFL games running long, impacting 60 Minutes | Part of the domino effect from earlier delays |
| The Equalizer | 10 p.m. | NFL games running long, impacting 60 Minutes | Final show in the lineup, most affected by cumulative delays |
This table provides a clear overview of how each show is affected by the NFL’s unpredictable schedule.
Supporting Evidence and Future Outlook
The investigation into these delays has relied on recent articles and reliable sources, including those from US Weekly and AOL, which detailed the challenges caused by NFL broadcasts. Viewership statistics for Tracker underscore the strong audience interest in the show, despite the ongoing scheduling issues.
Moving forward, CBS may need to consider alternative programming strategies or work with the NFL to manage the timing of the broadcasts more effectively. Until then, viewers can expect this issue to persist during the NFL season, as the unpredictability of live sports continues to affect the primetime schedule.
In conclusion, while CBS’s Sunday lineup, including Tracker, Watson, and The Equalizer, suffers from persistent delays, the root cause is clear: NFL football broadcasts. These delays are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, but the strong viewership of these shows suggests that audiences are still invested, regardless of the unpredictable schedule.
