Ghosts Season 5 is scheduled to premiere on CBS in the United States in October 2025 as part of the network's 2025–2026 autumn prime-time lineup. New episodes air live on Thursdays at 8:30 PM Eastern Time / Pacific Time on CBS, with live and next-day streaming available via Paramount+.
Official Release Timeline and Broadcast Schedule for Ghosts Season 5
The fifth season of the acclaimed CBS comedy series Ghosts follows the established autumnal release pattern of broadcast network television. Following CBS's official renewal of the series, Ghosts Season 5 takes its place in the network’s fall 2025 prime-time schedule.
Historically, CBS debuts its flagship comedy block during the final two weeks of September or the first two weeks of October. For Season 5, production timetables and network scheduling confirm an October 2025 premiere window in the United States.
Typical Fall Broadcast Timeline for Ghosts (CBS):
- Summer Pre-Production
- July/Aug Principal Photography
- October Premiere
- May Season Finale
Episodes air weekly on Thursday evenings at 8:30 PM Eastern Time (7:30 PM Central Time), retaining the network's highly coveted comedy anchor slot directly following CBS’s lead-off sitcom block. Viewers in Eastern and Pacific time zones can watch linear broadcasts simultaneously at 8:30 PM, while Central and Mountain time zone airings are adjusted according to local network affiliate schedules.
| Broadcast Detail | Operational Specification |
|---|---|
| Primary Network | CBS Television Network |
| Expected US Premiere Window | October 2025 |
| Regular Time Slot | Thursdays at 8:30 PM ET / PT (7:30 PM CT) |
| Primary Streaming Home | Paramount+ |
| Estimated Episode Count | 22 Episodes (Standard Full-Season Order) |
| Production Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada (standing in for Upstate New York) |
How and Where to Watch Ghosts Season 5 in the United States
Navigating live broadcasts and streaming options for network television requires understanding the distribution windows established by Paramount Global. Viewers in the United States have multiple pathways to access Ghosts Season 5, ranging from traditional over-the-air television to direct-to-consumer digital platforms.
1. Traditional Linear Television (CBS)
For audiences with cable, satellite, or high-definition over-the-air (OTA) digital antennas, Ghosts Season 5 airs live on local CBS affiliate stations every Thursday night. An OTA antenna allows viewers within broadcast signal range to watch the series in uncompressed high definition for free.
2. Paramount+ Subscription Tiers
Paramount+ serves as the exclusive SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand) home for CBS original programming in the US:
- Paramount+ with SHOWTIME: Subscribers to this premium tier can stream their local CBS broadcast station live while Ghosts airs in real time. Full episodes also become available on-demand immediately following the live broadcast.
- Paramount+ Essential: Subscribers to this ad-supported tier do not receive live stream access to local CBS stations, but gain full on-demand access to new Season 5 episodes starting at 3:00 AM Eastern Time (12:00 AM Pacific Time) the morning after the broadcast (Fridays).
3. Digital Purchase Platforms
Viewers who prefer to own episodes without a recurring subscription can purchase individual Season 5 episodes or full season passes in High Definition (HD) or 4K. Platforms offering digital purchases include:
- Amazon Prime Video
- Apple TV / iTunes
- Vudu (Fandango at Home)
- Google TV
Season pass purchases typically deliver digital copies of episodes to the buyer's library early Friday morning following the Thursday television broadcast.
Season-by-Season Broadcast History and Comparison
Understanding the history of Ghosts broadcasts provides context for episode ordering, production cycles, and premiere timing. The table below outlines the evolution of the series across its run on CBS.
| Season | US Premiere Date | Season Finale Date | Episode Count | Primary Distruption / Production Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | October 7, 2021 | April 14, 2022 | 18 | Debut season; extended order due to strong ratings performance. |
| Season 2 | September 29, 2022 | May 11, 2023 | 22 | Full-season order; established Thursday 8:30 PM time slot. |
| Season 3 | February 15, 2024 | May 2, 2024 | 10 | Delayed and shortened due to 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA industry strikes. |
| Season 4 | October 17, 2024 | May 2025 | 22 | Return to standard broadcast schedule and full episode count. |
| Season 5 | October 2025 | May 2026 | 22 (Expected) | Standard fall premiere window; continuation of full-season structure. |
Production Status and Creative Team
Ghosts is adapted for American television by executive producers and showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman. The show is produced by CBS Studios in association with Lionsgate Television and BBC Studios Los Angeles. It is based on the critically acclaimed British series of the same name created by Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond, and Martha Howe-Douglas.
Principal photography for Season 5 takes place primarily at soundstages in Montreal, Quebec, while exterior shots of the fictional Woodstone B&B utilize a historic estate in the surrounding region. Pre-production, table reads, and writer room sessions begin during the late spring and early summer months to ensure a seamless lead-up to the fall launch.
Production Pipeline:
- Writers Room Session
- Montreal Stage Filming
- Post-Production & VFX
- CBS Network Delivery
The production relies heavily on practical set design and visual effects compositing to handle the supernatural visual elements, including ghosts passing through solid walls, manipulating light fixtures, and exhibiting distinct physical attributes tied to their deaths.
Expected Season 5 Cast and Characters
The success of Ghosts centers on its ensemble cast, which combines living lead actors with a diverse array of spirits inhabiting the Woodstone estate. All core series regulars return for Season 5.
Living Lead Roles
- Rose McIver as Samantha "Sam" Arondekar: A freelance journalist who, following a near-death experience in Season 1, gained the ability to see and speak with ghosts. She manages the Woodstone Bed & Breakfast alongside her husband.
- Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay Arondekar: Sam’s supportive husband and a skilled chef. Although Jay cannot see or hear the ghosts, he has learned to interact with them through Sam's real-time translations and detailed ghost house-rules.
The Woodstone Ghost Ensemble
- Brandon Scott Jones as Captain Isaac Higgintoot: A closeted Revolutionary War officer who died of dysentery shortly after the American Revolution.
- Danielle Pinnock as Alberta Haynes: A fiery 1920s Prohibition-era lounge singer whose mysterious murder formed a central arc in earlier seasons.
- Richie Moriarty as Pete Martino: A friendly, overly optimistic Travel Sentry troop leader who died in 1985 when an arrow inadvertently shot him through the neck.
- Asher Grodman as Trevor Lefkowitz: A party-loving 1990s Wall Street broker who died without wearing pants and possesses the ability to move small physical objects when exerting intense focus.
- Sheila Carrasco as Susan "Flower" Montero: A peaceful, drug-loving hippie from the late 1960s who met her demise after attempting to hug a wild bear.
- Román Zaragoza as Sasappis: A cynically witty Lenape Native American man who predates the physical construction of the estate house.
- Rebecca Wisocky as Henrietta "Hetty" Woodstone: The stern, aristocratic 19th-century lady of the manor and original ancestor of the property.
- Devan Chandler Long as Thorfinn: A volatile yet sensitive 11th-century Viking explorer left behind by his shipmates after dying from a lightning strike.
Recurring and Guest Characters
Season 5 continues to feature recurring spirits from surrounding areas, such as the cholera victims living in the basement, the British soldiers housed in the neighboring shed, and guest spirits introduced in surrounding properties.
Plot Dynamics and Story Continuity Ahead of Season 5
Ghosts blends episodic comedy with long-term character developments. Moving into Season 5, several running plot lines and thematic shifts guide the story:
- Expanding B&B Operations: Sam and Jay constantly face operational and financial hurdles while running Woodstone B&B. Season 5 introduces new guest demographics, unexpected facility repairs, and comedic clashes between living guests and unseen spirits.
- Ghost Lore and Supernatural Rules: The series continues to flesh out the mechanics of the spirit realm. Key elements include the process of being "sucked up" to heaven or "down" to hell, the manifestation of unique ghost powers, and the boundary limitations of where ghosts can travel.
- Jay's Connection to the Spirits: A long-running narrative arc involves Jay’s ongoing desire to visually interact with the ghosts. While Jay remains physically unable to see them outside rare boundary occurrences, the writers frequently devise creative ways for Jay to bond directly with the spirits through Sam's intervention.
- Inter-Ghost Relationships: Romantic and social dynamics among the main spirits remain fluid, particularly following major character shifts in Seasons 3 and 4 regarding Isaac’s personal life, Hetty’s independence, and Pete’s newfound power to leave the property boundaries.
Technical Specifications and Viewer Setup Guide
To ensure optimal playback quality when streaming or broadcasting Ghosts Season 5, review the following system requirements and network settings.
Antenna Setup for Over-The-Air Viewing
To view Season 5 free on CBS in high definition:
- Connect an HD digital antenna to the coaxial port of your television set.
- Navigate to your TV's setup menu and select Channel Scan or Auto-Tuning.
- Ensure the antenna is oriented toward your nearest local CBS transmitter tower.
- Tune to your local affiliate channel at 8:30 PM ET/PT on Thursdays.
Paramount+ Streaming Device Compatibility
Paramount+ supports full HD (1080p) playback for all episodes, with selected original content supported in 4K HDR. Recommended playback environments include:
- Streaming Players: Roku (OS 9.4 and higher), Apple TV (tvOS 13.0 or later), Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV.
- Smart TVs: LG (webOS 4.0+), Samsung (2017 models and newer), VIZIO (SmartCast models), Sony Android TVs.
- Mobile & Desktop: iOS 14.0+, Android 5.0+, modern desktop browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge).
- Bandwidth Requirement: Minimum download speed of 4.0 Mbps for HD streaming; 25.0 Mbps for 4K UHD streaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ghosts Season 5 officially confirmed by CBS?
Yes, CBS officially renewed Ghosts for its fifth season, securing its placement on the network's 2025–2026 fall television schedule following consistently high viewer ratings and streaming performance on Paramount+.
What time does Ghosts Season 5 air on CBS?
Ghosts Season 5 airs on Thursday nights at 8:30 PM Eastern Time / Pacific Time (7:30 PM Central Time) in the United States, keeping its established spot within CBS's Thursday night prime-time comedy lineup.
Can I watch Ghosts Season 5 on Netflix or Hulu in the US?
No. In the United States, SVOD rights for CBS network television series are held exclusively by Paramount Global. Ghosts Season 5 is not available on Netflix or Hulu.
How many episodes will be in Ghosts Season 5?
Season 5 is expected to contain a standard full-season order of 22 episodes, running continuously from October 2025 through May 2026 with traditional holiday broadcast breaks.
How can I watch Ghosts Season 5 live without traditional cable?
You can stream Ghosts Season 5 live as it airs by subscribing to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, or through live TV streaming services that carry local CBS affiliates, such as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, or DirecTV Stream.
Recommended Next Steps for Viewers
To prepare for the launch of Ghosts Season 5 in October 2025:
- Verify Your Streaming Tier: Check your Paramount+ account status to confirm whether your plan includes live local CBS streaming (Paramount+ with SHOWTIME) or next-day on-demand access (Paramount+ Essential).
- Set Up DVR Recording: If using a digital cable provider or live streaming service (such as YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV), add Ghosts to your series library to automatically record new Thursday airings.
- Catch Up on Prior Seasons: Stream Seasons 1 through 4 on Paramount+ to review character development and resolve minor plot details prior to the fall premiere.
