'NCIS: Origins': Release Date and How to Watch Without Cable

Fans of TV's biggest police procedural drama are set to take a trip back to the early '90s with NCIS: Origins, an all-new show that uncovers Leroy Jethro Gibbs' early days at the investigative squad. 

Rising star Austin Stowell takes on the part of Gibbs in a role previously made famous by Mark Harmon. 

NCIS fans will still get their fix of the veteran actor, with Harmon set to take the role as series narrator, as well as a promised guest appearance -- his first in an NCIS show since 2021's Great Wide Open. 

Read on to find out how to watch season 1 of NCIS: Origins without cable.

CBS

When does NCIS: Origins start?

NCIS: Origins debuts in the US with a double helping of episodes on Monday, Oct. 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS -- straight after the premiere of season 22 of NCIS, which is set to air at 8 p.m. ET/PT. New episodes drop at the same time every Monday. 

Watch NCIS: Origins in the US

If you have CBS on cable you can tune in to the show on linear TV or livestream via the CBS website. All you'll need for sign-in is your cable provider details. There's also the added bonus of being able to watch previous seasons of NCIS and much more. 

You can also stream episodes the next day on Paramount Plus, or if you want to watch NCIS: Origins live but don't have CBS, the Paramount Plus with Showtime option includes live CBS. Cord-cutters can also select a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV or Fubo to stream CBS content without cable.

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Paramount Plus Essential is the cheaper, ad-supported option for the streaming service. To go ad-free, you can get Paramount Plus with Showtime, which has ads on live content and a few TV shows. The higher-priced version also includes downloads and live feeds from your local CBS station.

Read our Paramount Plus review.

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There are numerous live TV streaming services available in the US that carry CBS live, allowing you to watch NCIS: Origins as soon as it airs every Monday, and YouTube TV is our favorite. It costs $73 a month. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area. Read our YouTube TV review.

Watch NCIS: Origins in Canada

Global TV

Canadian crime drama fans will be thrilled to learn that Global is airing new episodes of NCIS: Origins at the same time they go out in the US -- that's 9 p.m. ET/PT every Monday. 

If the channel isn't part of your cable lineup, you can still watch NCIS: Origins for free by downloading the Global TV app, where you can watch episodes for free for the first seven days after they air.

Watch NCIS: Origins in Australia

The great news for NCIS fans is that this new prequel show will be available to watch Down Under via Paramount Plus.

James Martin/CNET

Paramount Plus has three main subscription plans in Australia: Ad-supported Basic tier for AU$7, Standard for AU$10 per month which offers streaming on up to two devices simultaneously in HD resolution, and Premium for AU$14 which allows you to stream on four different devices at the same time, and in 4K resolution. 

In addition to access to the NCIS back catalogue, including the recent NCIS: Sydney spin-off, you'll also get access to the likes of Yellowstone, South Park and reality shows like Survivor. 

If you're prepared to wait a little bit longer, the show will also be available to watch on free-to-air Network 10 with the show premiering on the station with a double episode at 8:30 p.m. AEDT on Wednesday, Oct. 23. 

Can I watch NCIS: Origins in the UK?

There's currently no confirmed broadcaster for this new spin-off of the hugely popular crime show in the UK. If you're traveling to the UK from the US, Canadian or Australia and don't want to miss the latest installment of NCIS: Origins, you'll need to use a VPN as outlined on this page.