Ratings for CBS' "60 Minutes" Reach Multi-Year Low
"60 Minutes" recorded its lowest Sunday viewership in years, with significant declines in the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen data.
CBS' flagship news program "60 Minutes" attracted 5.64 million viewers for its Sunday broadcast, Nielsen data showed, marking one of the smallest audiences the show has drawn in recent years. The audience in the 25-54 age group fell to 558,000, down from 767,000 two weeks earlier, a level not seen since 2000. Compared with the same week last year, total viewership dropped 60 percent, while the 25-54 demographic declined 81 percent.
The episode was outperformed by two CBS scripted dramas, "Tracker" and "Marshals," for the first time in its usual Sunday night non-sports slot. Industry observers noted that the program often serves as a lead-in for the network's Sunday lineup, including NFL games, and a weak performance could affect broader ratings.
The season premiere in September, the first under CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, drew about 7.94 million viewers, the lowest opening since the turn of the century despite a strong NFL lead-in. The fourth episode on Oct. 10 attracted 6.06 million viewers, also marking a historically low figure.
Weiss, who previously founded the outlet The Free Press, was appointed editor-in-chief late last year after Paramount Skydance acquired The Free Press. Since her appointment, the program has seen personnel changes, including the replacement of longtime executive producer Tanya Simon with Nick Bilton and the departure of several correspondents.
Sunday's segment examined the Trump administration's deportation practices, featured Colorado Governor Jared Polis, and included an interview with Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, who was sentenced for interfering with election equipment and later pardoned by Governor Polis. Bill Whitaker conducted the interview with Peters.
The Daily Beast has requested comment from CBS News.