What is 48 Hours about?

This newsmagazine series investigates intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all aspects of the human experience. Over its long run, the show has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, driven the reopening — and resolution — of cold cases, and changed numerous lives. CBS News corres...

48 Hours

TV Show TV-14 1988 42m/ep 7.3 /10 Returning

A CBS Original

Directed by Matthew DeVoe

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Streaming availability last verified: February 03, 2026

About 48 Hours

48 Hours invites viewers into real life crime stories told with the lens of investigative journalism. Each episode digs into a case that tests memory, law, and human motivation, tracing clues from first reports to court room outcomes. The show shines a light on people whose lives hinge on the truth, whether a long simmering mystery, a possible wrongful conviction, or a fresh lead that could reopen a closed chapter. Through in depth reporting by CBS News correspondents, audiences follow a careful process to uncover facts, weigh competing theories, and show how investigations evolve over time. The emphasis stays on solving the central riddle rather than sensationalism, offering a grounded look at justice in progress.

Released in 1988, the program was directed by Matthew DeVoe and created by Judy Tygard, built from original CBS News reporting rather than a bound source material. It helped bring investigative television into the realm of real life justice, tracing cases nationwide.

The program has earned Primetime Emmy nominations for its investigative reporting and storytelling, reflecting its commitment to rigorous journalism and human centered coverage. It has also received industry recognition for bringing renewed attention to cold cases and wrongful prosecutions, inspiring future crime reporting.

The show helped standardize a newsroom style of true crime that blends narrative detail with factual reporting; it has sparked conversations about exonerations and case reopenings, and it has influenced how audiences think about justice, accountability, and the role of media in solving real life mysteries. It also helped set a template for later investigative shows that blend archival material with contemporary updates.

Critics have praised the program for its steady, methodical approach to crime reporting, prioritizing evidence over drama. It stays focused on the human side of each case, raises questions about due process, and stresses that truth can shift as new information comes to light. The show has remained influential in shaping how audiences respond to complex investigations.

Details

Release Date: January 19, 1988
Episode Length: 42m
Rating: TV-14
User Ratings: 51 votes
Type: TV Series
Seasons: 39
Episodes: 1150
Network: CBS
Status: Returning Series
Genres: News, Crime, Documentary
Country: United States
Studio: CBS News Productions
External Links: View on IMDB

Seasons (39 seasons, 1150 episodes)

Season 1

29 episodes - 1988

Season 2

61 episodes - 1988

Season 3

1 episodes - 1990

Season 4

1 episodes - 1991

Season 5

1 episodes - 1992

Season 6

1 episodes - 1993

Season 7

1 episodes - 1994

Season 8

1 episodes - 1995

Season 9

30 episodes - 1996

S10

Season 10

52 episodes - 1997

S11

Season 11

16 episodes - 1998

S12

Season 12

53 episodes - 1998

S13

Season 13

43 episodes - 1999

S14

Season 14

42 episodes - 2000

S15

Season 15

45 episodes - 2001

S16

Season 16

43 episodes - 2002

S17

Season 17

35 episodes - 2003

S18

Season 18

30 episodes - 2004

S19

Season 19

30 episodes - 2005

S20

Season 20

29 episodes - 2006

S21

Season 21

27 episodes - 2007

S22

Season 22

26 episodes - 2008

S23

Season 23

26 episodes - 2009

Season 24

27 episodes - 2010

S25

Season 25

27 episodes - 2011

S26

Season 26

27 episodes - 2012

S27

Season 27

34 episodes - 2013

S28

Season 28

68 episodes - 2014

S29

Season 29

38 episodes - 2015

S30

Season 30

33 episodes - 2016

S31

Season 31

32 episodes - 2017

S32

Season 32

30 episodes - 2018

S33

Season 33

33 episodes - 2019

S34

Season 34

37 episodes - 2020

S35

Season 35

31 episodes - 2021

S36

Season 36

31 episodes - 2022

S37

Season 37

33 episodes - 2023

S38

Season 38

33 episodes - 2024

S39

Season 39

15 episodes - 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

48 Hours is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. You can also rent or buy it on Apple iTunes.

Yes, 48 Hours is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Yes, you can buy on Apple iTunes.

48 Hours has 39 seasons with a total of 1150 episodes.

With a rating of 7.3/10 from 51 viewers, 48 Hours is well-regarded and recommended by viewers.

48 Hours was created by Judy Tygard.

48 Hours was released on January 19, 1988.

48 Hours is a News, Crime, and Documentary series.

Yes. 48 Hours is a nonfiction newsmagazine that investigates real crime and justice stories. It centers on in-depth reporting by CBS News correspondents.

48 Hours was created by Judy Tygard. The show is directed by Matthew DeVoe.

Each episode presents a real crime or justice story through CBS News reporting, interviews, and in-depth analysis. The emphasis is on uncovering the truth and, in some cases, solving the mystery.

Yes. Over its long run the show has helped exonerate wrongly convicted individuals and driven the reopening and resolution of cold cases.