NBC Schedules Broadcast Premiere Of Crime Drama 'M.I.A.' One Week After Peacock Release

NBC will air the pilot episode of the Peacock crime drama series "M.I.A." on Thursday, May 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, one week after the full season debuts on the streaming platform on May 7. The broadcast airing is a cross-promotion strategy designed to introduce the show to traditional television audiences following its streaming release.

The series, created by Bill Dubuque of "Ozark," stars Shannon Gisela as Etta Tiger Jonze, a young woman seeking revenge in Miami after her family's drug-running operation is destroyed. The plot follows Etta as she hunts down a dozen men responsible for killing most of her family members while evading their attempts to locate her. She is joined by two allies, Lovely and Stanley, characters who represent the Haitian and Latino communities that make up significant portions of Miami's population.

The cast includes Cary Elwes, Danay Garcia, Brittany Adebumola, Dylan Jackson, Alberto Guerra, Maurice Compte, Gerardo Celasco, and Marta Milans. The show received a straight-to-series order from Peacock in 2024. Bill Dubuque serves as executive producer and writer, while Karen Campbell is the showrunner, writer, and executive producer.

Directors for the nine-episode first season include Alethea Jones (episodes 1-2), Gwyneth Horder-Payton (episode 3), Marizee Almas (episodes 4-5), Ben Semanoff (episodes 6-7), and John Dahl (episodes 8-9). MRC is the production studio.

Context

The strategy of airing a streaming series pilot on broadcast television mirrors efforts by other networks to drive viewership between platforms. Peacock has increasingly used this cross-promotion model to expand reach beyond subscription-only audiences. "M.I.A." is one of several crime dramas featuring Miami settings that have aired in recent years, following the success of shows like "Dexter," which ran for eight seasons before its original 2021 conclusion and later revival.

Dubuque's previous series "Ozark" ran for four seasons on Netflix from 2017 to 2022 and became one of the streaming platform's most-watched programs. The decision to premiere "M.I.A." on Peacock reflects the streaming service's investment in original drama content created by established showrunners.

What's Next

The May 7 Peacock premiere will determine whether the series gains enough viewership to warrant renewal discussions. The May 14 NBC broadcast will serve as a secondary test of audience interest among traditional television viewers, providing data on whether the show can attract viewers across both streaming and linear platforms. Peacock has not announced plans for additional seasons beyond the current nine-episode order.