A detailed look at the '60 Minutes' ratings drop shows the problem facing Bari Weiss
"60 Minutes" ratings fell 20% in the season debut, though the audience stuck around at a comparable rate to last year's premiere.
The debut episode of CBS News' Sunday program, 60 Minutes, saw a 20% drop in viewership compared to the previous year's premiere. The season premiere drew an average of just under 8 million viewers, down from over 10 million in 2024. The drop was primarily due to a decline after the first 15 minutes, which saw a 7.6% decrease compared to the previous year's 17% drop.
The data indicates that the viewership did not decline because the audience stopped watching the program, but rather because they did not watch it in the first place. The changes under new producer Nick Bilton and top editor Bari Weiss, including new graphics and the departure of four correspondents, may have contributed to the decline.
Additionally, the NFL's lower-than-anticipated viewership for the Sunday afternoon game, which typically serves as a lead-in for 60 Minutes, may have negatively impacted the ratings. Despite the drop, the show retained its audience for the first 15 minutes, suggesting that the controversies surrounding the program's changes may not have driven viewers away entirely.
The performance of the rest of the season will provide more insight into the challenges facing Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- '60 Minutes' ratings tanked in the season debut under Bari Weiss businessinsider.com
