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60 Minutes Ratings Drop Amidst Major Overhaul
15 Sep
Summary
- Premiere viewership fell 21 percent to 7.94 million viewers.
- Digital views on social platforms tripled compared to last year.
- NFL lead-in audience was also significantly smaller this year.
The 59th season premiere of 60 Minutes, which aired on September 13, 2026, attracted 7.94 million viewers, marking a 21 percent decrease from the 10.03 million viewers who tuned in for the previous year's debut on September 28, 2025. This season premiere occurred shortly after CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss implemented substantial changes, including the departure of several veteran staff members and the introduction of new producers and correspondents.
Despite the decline in traditional viewership, the program experienced significant growth in digital engagement. Views across 60 Minutes' social media platforms, excluding YouTube, reached 116.7 million, tripling the previous year's premiere numbers. Watch time on YouTube also more than doubled. This surge in digital interest indicates a shift in audience consumption habits.
Ratings for 60 Minutes are often influenced by its NFL lead-in. The September 13, 2026 broadcast benefited from a lead-in game, but that game itself saw a smaller audience of 18.6 million viewers, down approximately 22 percent from the 23.77 million viewers for the 2025 premiere's lead-in. This reduction in the football audience likely contributed to the lower viewership for the subsequent 60 Minutes episode. The NFL's scheduling strategy, with doubleheaders on both CBS and Fox for the first time since 2023, also split the overall football audience.
