CBS will be trimming down 'CSI Las Vegas' season 15 episodes. Could this be due to deteriorating ratings?

According to TV Line, the initially intended 22 episodes for the crime series will be cut down to just 18.

After being moved to a Sunday schedule from last season's Wednesday slot, rumors of an impending cancellation started circulating. However, according to TV Line, CBS' decision did not revolve around poor ratings and was "more about inventory than ratings." In fact, viewership for the long-running crime show has been maintained since the change in timeslot.

It looks like 'CSI Las Vegas' season 15 was shortened to give way to 'The Mentalist' and 'Battle Creek,' as well as the show's own spinoff, 'CSI Cyber.'

"Although the show is down double-digits from its Season 14 average (when it aired Wednesdays at 10), it's maintaining the time period's year-ago average in viewers and adults 18-49," TV Line reported.

Enstars has a different idea, however. According to the news site, the show has been experiencing a steady decline in the past couple of seasons.

'CSI Las Vegas' season 15 viewers for the 18-49 age group fell to just eight million compared to last season's 9 to 10 million. Season 13 brought in 10-11 million viewers.

Las Vegas is the last CSI franchise left standing, as of now. Previous spinoffs, 'CSI: Miami' and 'CSI: New York' also suffered poor ratings before getting their plug pulled. CBS isn't giving up though.

'CSI Cyber' will quickly follow 'CSI Las Vegas' season 15. The spinoff stars Patricia Arquette and will be dealing with crime relying heavily on the darkest depths of the internet.

Meanwhile, episode five of 'CSI Las Vegas' had the girls Sarah, Julie (Finlay) and Morgan experiencing a revenge shooting from two different gunmen during a conference for criminalists and cops.

Do you think 'CSI Las Vegas' will still have a season 16? Are you looking forward to 'CSI Cyber?'