The $30 million dip

Justin Hartley's Tracker has lost its top spot as most-watched show on basic channel to Taylor Sheridan's Marshals, according to Nielsen's viewership numbers. despite remaining one of the most-watched shows on TV, Tracker's numbers have dipped since its premiere, and the show has officially met its match.

Tracker's premiere garnered a whopping 18 million viewers when it debuted as CBS's Super Bowl LVIII lead-in . While the numbers have dipped since then, the show has remained at the top of the hierarchy for the most part of the 2025-2026 TV cycle.

Based on the Never Game, Tracker's premise is straightforward, albeit quite different from its procedural peers. Colter makes a living out of finding missing people, with all of his support team providing assistance remotely.. This means that Hartley's character is usually on his own on the ground.

Marshals' surprise success

Marshals, starring Luke Grimes' Kayce, has officially dethroned Tracker as the most-watched show on basic channel. with 20.7 million viewers based on 35-day multiplatform viewership and broadcast/cable L7 ratings charts,Marshals has taken the number 3 spot - only behind Netflix's Stranger Things and His & Hers.

What makes Marshals' numbers so impressive is that it debuted late in the cycle. The Yellowstone franchise's first network TV show didn't arrive until March and only had a 13-episode first run, which wrapped in late May.

Throughout their time as CBS's back-to-back tandem on Sunday nights, Tracker and Marshals were neck-on-neck when it came to ratings.

The rivalry continues

Tracker remains one of the most-watched shows on TV, but a surprise development has CBS effectively cancelling its best future. the confirmed changes in Tracker season 4 will help rejuvenate the base, as the series tries to keep things fresh and innovative for its fan base.

Whether Sheridan's series pulls away from Hartley's is currently uncertain, but it will be a fun rivalry to keep an eye on. Tracker season 4 will premiere this fall on CBS.