The Reason Why CBS Canceled Multiple Shows Ahead of 2025-2026 Broadcast Season Is Revealed

While CBS has had some incredible success with its 2024-2025 programming slate, the network made the decision to cancel a number of shows that were loved by many. The reason behind the big moves made to the network’s lineup was finally addressed.

Why CBS Canceled Multiple Shows Ahead of 2025-2026 Broadcast Season

Included in the list of canceled CBS shows ahead of the 2025-2026 broadcast season were The Equalizer and two FBI spinoffs, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach addressed the cancellations of the shows while talking to reporters in May 2025.

“It’s not easy to end shows and we had a lot of options this year,” she said. “The schedule is really full and so we always have to look at all of our shows, look at the aggregate information, the creative of where they are in their life cycle, what the finances look like, what the ratings are, and then we make those tough decisions.”

About the FBI spinoffs in particular, Reisenbach addressed the decision to cut the shows while also explaining why a new FBI spinoff called CIA was greenlit at the network.

“We love working with Dick Wolf and we’re so excited to bring CIA onto the schedule,” she said. “We have to be fiscally responsible and ultimately, those deals and the shows just weren’t penciling out for us from an economic perspective. But we want to be in the business with Dick. We’re excited to launch a new two-hour block next season.”

Inside the Cancellation of ‘The Equalizer’

As for why CBS decided to cancel The Equalizer after five seasons, Reisenbach said that the decision did not come as much of a major shock to the show’s cast and crew.

“Equalizer did have some notice that this might be the end,” she said. “They wrote a really satisfying ending for fans. And it’s always sad to say goodbye to shows, but they’ve been incredibly classy. Again, we make the tough decisions in order to benefit the best version of the schedule.”

Star Queen Latifah spoke out on the show’s cancellation and coming to terms with the show ending.

“I am processing [the cancellation]. It occurred to me that it has been such a big part of my life for the last — more than — five years actually. I’m thankful. I’m very grateful. I’m in a very grateful place. I’m grateful to the fans of the show for sticking with it,” she told Us Weekly in May 2025.

“I appreciate CBS putting us on and my producing partners and the wonderful cast I got to work with,” she said. “They became my family. There is also this wonderful crew, writers, showrunners and everybody was involved in it. And really the fans who rocked with us.”

What to Know About New ‘FBI’ Spinoff in the Wake of Cancellations

Though the two FBI spinoffs were cut from CBS, the upcoming installment in the franchise, CIA, will star Tom Ellis. The series will air during the 2025-2026 broadcast season.

“CIA is a one hour crime drama centered on two unlikely partners – a fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon CIA case officer (Ellis), and a by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law,” the show’s official logline says. “When this odd couple are assigned to work out of CIA’s New York Station, they must learn to work together to investigate cases and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, finding that their differences may actually be their strength.”