S.W.A.T. Tops Apple TV Store Nine Years After CBS Debut S.W.A.T. ranks number one on the Apple TV Store in the United States in 2026, nine years after its CBS premiere, as sequel series S.W.A.T. Exiles airs on Starz. S.W.A.T., the crime procedural starring Shemar Moore as Daniel Hondo Harrelson Jr., has reached number one on the Apple TV Store in the United States, according to data from September 28, 2026, nine years after the series first aired on CBS in 2017. The ranking reflects a large American audience purchasing and watching episodes of the show digitally on the platform. S.W.A.T. Dominates Apple TV StoreThe Apple TV Store placement means viewers in the United States are buying and owning episodes of S.W.A.T. digitally rather than only streaming them. The series is also available to subscribers of Paramount+, yet its performance on Apple TV indicates its popularity extends well beyond subscription streaming.Apple TV measures success through digital purchases, so a number one position points to sustained consumer demand for the show years after its network run. The data from September 28, 2026, places S.W.A.T. ahead of other titles in the store, showing that the series continues to attract buyers rather than relying solely on streaming access.Crime procedurals have long been a staple of television, from Homicide: Life on the Street to Broadchurch, and the genre supports many types of stories about police officers, crime and the pursuit of justice. Although many procedurals follow a similar formula, no two are quite the same, and S.W.A.T. has built its own identity within that tradition.CBS Cancellations and ReturnsS.W.A.T. began in 2017 and follows Shemar Moore as Hondo, a former Marine tasked with bringing together the Los Angeles Police Department S.W.A.T. team, specifically the men of Twenty Squad. Each episode sees the team confront a new major threat, with an action-focused presentation while the characters try to keep peace in the city.The show is best known for having nearly been cancelled by CBS multiple times, only for new seasons to find a way back. Its popularity since it originally aired helped it get saved three times after CBS cancellations, and the main series ultimately came to an end with season 8.That history of survival highlights a loyal audience that followed the show through repeated renewal battles. The same audience support now appears to be driving the series to the top of the Apple TV Store, where viewers are choosing to purchase episodes even though the show is available elsewhere.Sequel Series S.W.A.T. Exiles on StarzThe franchise did not end with season 8. A sequel series titled S.W.A.T. Exiles, starring Moore as Hondo, began airing Fridays on Starz as of September 25. The sequel show has already been renewed for season 2.The new series reflects the main show's Apple TV success and showcases the wide-scale benefit of having such a positive history with audiences. With interest up thanks to the sequel series, it seems likely the original S.W.A.T. will continue performing well in the United States as more audience members buy and watch older episodes.Part of the show's success comes from being ahead of its time. Its action focus is reminiscent of the likes of Taylor Sheridan's shows, centering primarily on male characters going on serious missions that put their lives on the line.The series also includes social commentary, using stories about race, class and equity to give its plots depth beyond the expected macho-man surface. That mix makes the series accessible even to those hesitant about police procedurals, and it helps explain why S.W.A.T. has managed to become such a major hit on Apple TV.