If you've been scouring the internet trying to figure out what time is Tony and Ziva on, you're definitely not alone. The return of Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo as the legendary Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David was basically the television event of the last year. But here’s the thing: because this show lived exclusively on Paramount+, the "what time" part is a little different than the old days of sitting on your couch waiting for a CBS broadcast at 8:00 PM sharp.
The reality is that NCIS: Tony & Ziva followed the modern streaming playbook. If you’re looking to catch up or rewatch the first season now that we're in early 2026, you need the actual breakdown of how these episodes landed. Honestly, the rollout was a bit of a whirlwind, especially with that massive three-episode drop right at the start.
The Streaming Schedule: What Time Is Tony and Ziva On?
For the original run that wrapped up late last year, Paramount+ stuck to a very specific timing. New episodes of NCIS: Tony & Ziva dropped at 3:00 AM ET / 12:00 AM PT every Thursday.
Why the middle of the night? It’s the standard "midnight release" strategy for West Coast servers. If you live in New York, you were either staying up way too late or catching it first thing over coffee before work. For those in London or Paris, it usually popped up around 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM local time.
👉 See also: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
The season didn't just trickle out one by one from day one. Paramount+ kicked things off on September 4, 2025, by dumping the first three episodes all at once. It was a binge-heavy Thursday. After that, they switched to a weekly cadence.
The Season 1 Release Calendar
- Premiere (Episodes 1-3): September 4, 2025
- Episode 4: September 11, 2025
- Episode 5: September 18, 2025
- Episode 6: September 25, 2025
- Episode 7: October 2, 2025
- Episode 8: October 9, 2025
- Episode 9: October 16, 2025
- Season Finale (Episode 10): October 23, 2025
Now, because it’s 2026, the "what time" question is mostly about when you can hit play. All ten episodes are currently sitting on Paramount+ ready for a weekend marathon. You don't have to wait for a specific time slot anymore.
Why You Won't Find It on CBS
A lot of long-time NCIS fans got tripped up searching for a channel number. This isn't your grandfather’s procedural. Unlike NCIS: Origins or the flagship show, Tony & Ziva was built as a streaming original. It never aired on the CBS linear network during its initial run.
✨ Don't miss: Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family: What You Didn't Know About Morticia
There were rumors of a "special preview" airing on broadcast TV to entice subscribers, similar to what they did with Tulsa King or Yellowstone, but that never quite materialized for the full season. To watch the "Tiva" reunion, you basically have two choices: a Paramount+ subscription or buying the season on digital platforms like Amazon or Apple TV.
What Actually Happened in Season 1? (No Major Spoilers)
The show picks up in a very different place than the bullpen in D.C. Tony and Ziva are in Europe, raising their daughter Tali. It’s supposed to be their "happily ever after," but obviously, that makes for boring TV.
When Tony’s security firm gets hit by a high-tech attack, the family has to go on the run across the continent. It’s much more of an action-spy thriller than the "crime of the week" format we grew up with. We finally got answers about Ziva's years in hiding and how they reconnected after she "died."
🔗 Read more: Isaiah Washington Movies and Shows: Why the Star Still Matters
The Cast You Saw
Michael Weatherly (Tony) and Cote de Pablo (Ziva) are the anchors, obviously. But the supporting cast was surprisingly deep. Isla Gie played a teenage Tali, and she actually stole a lot of scenes. You also had James D'Arcy as an Interpol agent and Amita Suman as a tech genius from Tony's firm. It felt more like a Mission: Impossible movie than a standard episode of NCIS.
The Elephant in the Room: The Cancellation
I have to be honest here—if you’re looking for "what time" the next season is on, the news isn't great. On December 19, 2025, Paramount+ officially canceled the series after just one season.
It was a shocker. The ratings (or "minutes viewed" in streaming speak) were reportedly high, but the production costs for filming across Europe were massive. While the story of Season 1 is mostly self-contained, the cancellation left a lot of fans frustrated. There's currently a huge push on social media to get it moved to another streamer or back to CBS, but for now, those 10 episodes are all we've got.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're just starting your watch now, here is how to handle it:
- Check for Trials: If you don't want to commit to a monthly fee, Paramount+ usually offers a 7-day free trial. Since there are only 10 episodes, you can easily binge the whole thing in a weekend.
- Watch the Flashbacks: Pay close attention to the flashback sequences in Episodes 1 and 7. They fill in the "missing years" between Ziva leaving the original show and the start of this spinoff.
- Physical Media: If you're worried about it disappearing from streaming (it happens!), a DVD/Blu-ray release was spotted on Amazon recently. It's a safer bet for collectors.
Whether you're a "Tiva" shipper from the early 2000s or just a fan of international thrillers, the show is worth the time. Just don't expect to find it on your local CBS affiliate at 8:00 PM. Those days are gone.