 The CSI effect is named for CSI : Crime Scene Investigation , a television program which first aired in 2000 . In CSI , a fictional team of crime scene investigators solve murders in the Las Vegas metropolitan area . In each episode , the discovery of a human corpse leads to a criminal investigation by members of the team , who gather and analyze forensic evidence , question witnesses , and apprehend suspects . The show 's popularity led to three spin @-@ offs : CSI : Miami , which debuted in 2002 , CSI : NY , first aired in 2004 , and CSI : Cyber , which premiered in 2015 . The CSI franchise 's success resulted in the production of many similar shows ; in turn , the " CSI effect " has been associated with other crime shows , including American Justice , Bones , Cold Case , Cold Case Files , Cold Squad , Criminal Minds , Crossing Jordan , Exhibit A : Secrets of Forensic Science , Forensic Files , NCIS , Numb3rs , Silent Witness , Waking the Dead , Wire in the Blood , and Without a Trace . Based on the Nielsen ratings , six of the top ten most popular television shows in the United States in 2005 were crime dramas , and CSI : Crime Scene Investigation reached the number one ranking in November 2007 . 
