26 Feb 2015
THE “CSI” EPISODE THAT SERVED AS PLANTED SPIN-OFF FOR “CSI: CYBER” IS SCHEDULED TO AIR IN MORE THAN 150 COUNTRIES
Global Event Celebrates 15 Years of the “CSI” Franchise and the
March 4 Premiere of “CSI: Cyber”
“CSI: Cyber” Stars Academy Award® Winner Patricia Arquette
EXCLUSIVE COLLECTORS’ EDITION ART COMMISSIONED IN CELEBRATION
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Feb. 26, 2015 – CBS has declared Wednesday, March 4 WORLD CSI DAY, and will embark on a global effort for CSI to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® Achievement for “Largest Ever TV Drama Simulcast.” The event will celebrate 15 years of the CSI franchise, one of the biggest and most successful in the world, and the U.S. premiere of CSI: CYBER. The current record for the largest TV drama simulcast was achieved by the special 50th anniversary episode of “Doctor Who,” which was broadcast in 98 countries across six continents in November 2013.
The global event will feature a worldwide simulcast of the CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION episode “Kitty” (OAD: 4/30/14), which aired as the planted spin-off for CSI: CYBER, the next generation and fourth series in the franchise. The episode will air in more than 150 countries at 7:00 PM, ET (12:00 GMT) and will be streamed in the U.S. on CBS.com from 4:00 PM, PT to 12:00 AM, PT. CSI: CYBER, starring Academy Award® winner Patricia Arquette, premieres that same night in the U.S. on Wednesday, March 4, at 10:00 PM, ET on CBS.
In celebration of WORLD CSI DAY and the CSI franchise, special collectors’ edition art was commissioned to commemorate each of the series in the franchise, which will take over the shows’ Facebook accounts, which reach more than 30 million fans worldwide, and their Twitter accounts, which have more than 800,000 followers worldwide, and be prominently featured on CBS.com.
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION premiered in the fall of 2000 with big ratings, ground-breaking production values and a storytelling form that influenced a generation of crime dramas. The series ranked as television’s #1 drama for seven seasons and became a global phenomenon, earning the title of the “most-watched show in the world” on six separate occasions, most recently in 2012. CSI has also developed into a major franchise for CBS, spawning three television spin-offs, books, video games and “CSI: The Experience,” an interactive educational exhibit about forensic science that travels around the world.
“When CSI premiered, I had no idea it would become the sensational global franchise it is today,” said Anthony Zuiker, creator of the CSI franchise and co-creator and executive producer of CSI: CYBER. “CSI has taken on Las Vegas, Miami, New York and now, with CSI: CYBER, we dive into the vast world of cyber crime, where we can instantly be connected to anyone, anywhere in the world at any time. I can’t think of a better way to kick off CSI: CYBER and celebrate 15 years of international success than with a worldwide simulcast.”
“CSI blazed a trail when it introduced the world to ‘feature’ television with its unique storytelling and innovative production values,” said Nina Tassler, Chairman, CBS Entertainment. “This groundbreaking show introduced the field of forensics into the cultural zeitgeist, and it’s a tribute to the vibrancy of the franchise that 15 years later, it can evolve yet again and dive into the cutting-edge field of cyber crime with CSI: CYBER.”
“CSI has taught us over the years the evidence does not lie,” stated David Stapf, President CBS Television Studios. “The kind of success the franchise has accomplished is a feat achieved by few and we are so proud of the cultural impact it has made, not just in the U.S., but around the globe.”
“The CSI franchise has been a center piece of television schedules around the world for the past 15 years,” said Armando Nuñez, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Global Distribution Group. “We are thrilled to celebrate this anniversary through a global simulcast event, supported by the licensees who have made the original series such a powerful brand in their markets.”
ABOUT CSI:
In the U.S., CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION recently completed its 15th season. It is a fast-paced drama about a team of forensic investigators trained to solve crimes by examining the evidence. The series stars Ted Danson, Elisabeth Shue, Jorja Fox, Eric Szmanda, Robert David Hall, David Berman, Wallace Langham, Elisabeth Harnois and Jon Wellner. Original cast member George Eads’ final episode aired Feb. 15, 2015. Jerry Bruckheimer, Carol Mendelsohn, Anthony Zuiker, Don McGill, Jonathan Littman, Louis Milito, Ann Donahue, Cindy Chvatal and original cast member William Petersen serve as executive producers. It is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Daltrey Funding LP Jerry Bruckheimer Television.
ABOUT CSI: CYBER:
CSI: CYBER is a drama inspired by the advanced technological work of real-life Cyber Psychologist Mary Aiken. The show revolves around Special Agent Avery Ryan who heads the Cyber Crime Division of the FBI, a unit at the forefront of solving illegal activities that start in the mind, live online, and play out in the real world. Patricia Arquette, James Van Der Beek, Peter MacNicol, Shad Moss, Hayley Kiyoko and Charley Koontz star. Carol Mendelsohn, Ann Donahue, Anthony Zuiker, Pam Veasey, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman serve as executive producers. It is produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Content Partners Cyber, LP and Jerry Bruckheimer Television.
ABOUT CSI: MIAMI AND CSI: NEW YORK:
CSI: MIAMI, which ran from 2002 to 2012, and CSI: NEW YORK, which ran from 2004 to 2013, were also produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Daltrey Funding LLC and Jerry Bruckheimer Television. CSI: MIAMI was nominated for an International TV Audience Award seven times and CSI: NEW YORK was nominated once. CSI: MIAMI ranked among television’s top five dramas, beginning with its debut in 2002-2003, for five consecutive seasons, peaking at 19.00 million viewers in 2004-2005. CSI: NY also ranked as one of television’s most-watched dramas from its debut in 2004-2005 through its final season, averaging a series best of 14.08 million viewers in 2006-2007.
*The worldwide simulcast at 12:00 GMT will take place on March 4 or March 5, depending on the country’s time zone.