CBS’s Cancelled Crime Show Officially Changes Release Format For Its Successful Revival

Published Oct 11, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT

Alexandria is a British-Canadian writer with a passion for network TV. 
She has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Aston University, Birmingham. After initially working as a software tester, she rekindled a passion for writing and has written for blogs and publications like Hidden Remote, Make a Living Writing, and The Daily Voice. She has interviewed various actors and showrunners, with her most memorably being Tony Shalhoub and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

When CBS canceled SWAT for the third and final time, the show's team made it clear that they weren't done. Shemar Moore and others found a way to keep the story going with SWAT Exiles, but there was a catch.

With SWAT canceled, Sony took a risk by producing all 10 episodes of SWAT Exiles before knowing if they would ever see the light of day. Exiles is a darker, grittier version of SWAT that showcases Hondo's heroic era, and it didn't necessarily belong on traditional network TV, so they turned to streaming.

In the end, SWAT Exiles found a home at Starz, a premium cable network that has delivered some similar programs, like the Power franchise. It does things differently from broadcast networks and traditional streaming platforms, creating a unique release format that has been a successful change for the SWAT spinoff. Moving away from CBS allows for more colorful language and mature storytelling, giving the SWAT universe a chance to grow up.

SWAT Successfully Changes Its Release Format For Exiles

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When SWAT Exiles started, it was without a network and with multiple original SWAT characters confirmed not returning. In the end, it found Starz, completely changing its release format. While SWAT aired weekly on CBS and then streamed the following day on Paramount+, Starz opts for the opposite, with episodes available on its app right away.

Suddenly, there was no need to wait for the new episodes. If people didn't happen to catch the episode live on CBS and hadn't decided to DVR it, they would need to completely avoid social media and wait the next day. Now, viewers get far more control, with Starz dropping episodes at midnight ET on Fridays, and yes, viewers will wait up just like they did with Outlander and Power. The benefit for those on the West Coast is that episodes drop on the app the night before, meaning people can choose to tune in on a Thursday evening before going to bed.

Unlike most other Starz shows, SWAT Exiles even airs on the Starz channel at midnight ET each week, offering a way for subscribers to watch it on demand via a cable provider. It then airs on Friday nights around 10 p.m. ET/PT on the same channel, allowing for the option of appointment viewing, similar to how audiences watched SWAT on CBS.

Why SWAT Exiles New Release Format Is Better

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Offering people viewing freedom is one of the biggest benefits of Starz's model. SWAT Exiles audiences get to tune in at a time that suits them rather than being beholden to the broadcast networks' schedules. If fans want to stay up until midnight or are getting in from work during the early hours of the morning, they can watch right away and not have to worry about spoilers online. Those who prefer to have a set schedule, following standard broadcast rules, can continue to follow that format.

Starz also takes away the commercials, as the money to run the premium cable network comes from subscribers, whether via a cable provider or directly to the on-demand app. With an uninterrupted flow, people can remain focused on the storyline of the week, while also seeing the serialized elements build. It's also easy enough to rewatch episodes directly on the platform so viewers remember everything that's happened.

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The lack of commercials means that there's also more freedom in runtime. As a premium cable channel, Starz doesn't have to stick to hour-long dramas, which end up being 42 minutes of storytelling with 18 minutes of commercials. The story is able to breathe, offering more time to get to know the new characters and see their bonds form. Add in a lack of censorship from the network execs, and SWAT Exiles feels rawer and more realistic.

Cast

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  Shemar Moore

  David 'Deacon' Kay

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  Jay Harrington

  Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson Jr.

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  Patrick St. Esprit

  Robert 'Bob' Hicks

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  Lucy Barrett

  Sammy 'Sam' Bishop

S.W.A.T. Exiles follows Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson, who is brought out of retirement to lead an experimental SWAT unit of young, untested recruits.