Latest 60 Minutes Episode Draws Over Six Million Viewers Amid Internal CBS Clash

An average of 6.06 million people watched a recent episode of the news program 60 Minutes. This broadcast followed a major internal clash over its content. Longtime correspondent Lesley Stahl and CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss argued over a segment about Israeli settlers on the West Bank. Weiss focused closely on this report, which forced CBS to delay promoting the episode and angered Stahl.

Viewership Numbers

The overall audience dropped by 12 percent compared to the same episode last season. It fell by nearly 41 percent from the previous week. That earlier show had benefited from a strong lead-in from an NFL game. The recent episode also competed directly with NFL broadcasts on Fox and NBC. Viewership in the key advertising age group of 25 to 54 dropped to 767,000. This is a 19 percent decline from last season and a 62 percent drop from the prior week.

Leadership Changes

CBS News faces pressure to stabilize the program following a major leadership overhaul at the end of last season. Weiss removed executive producer Tanya Simon and replaced her with Nick Bilton. The network also pushed out correspondents Scott Pelley, Cecilia Vega, and Sharyn Alfonsi. Anderson Cooper left after his contract ended. New contributors include Ross Douthat, Ariel Levy, and Sebastian Junger.

Episode Segments

Aside from Stahl's report on the West Bank, the episode included an interview by Norah O'Donnell. She spoke with U.S. Secret Service director Sean Curran and deputy director Matt Quinn. A third segment featured Bill Whitaker profiling musician Jon Batiste.

Context

Television news magazines often rely heavily on sports broadcasts that air right before them to boost initial viewer numbers. Major changes in executive leadership and on-air talent can also influence how audiences and advertisers respond to long-running broadcast programs.