The premiere of “60 Minutes” on Sunday attracted 7.9 million viewers, marking the show’s lowest season opener since 2000 and a 21% drop from last year’s 10.03 million viewers. This decline followed significant changes under CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss, including the dismissal of four longtime correspondents.
The ratings also lagged in comparison to the NFL lead-in, which registered 18.6 million viewers on a day when the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers. This was a 22% decrease from last year, and CBS faced competition with NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” later in the time slot.
Despite a major promotional push, including a high-profile interview with a downed Air Force officer, the episode struggled to maintain viewer interest, affected by potential public sentiment toward military operations. CBS needs to be patient as viewers adjust to the new format and personnel changes, including new hires with little prior television experience.
