The season premiere of 60 Minutes drew 7.94 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That represents a 21% decline from last year’s season opener.
What We Know: 60 Minutes entered its 59th season following widespread changes behind the scenes. Nick Bilton replaced Tonya Simon as executive producer, while longtime correspondents Anderson Cooper, Scott Pelley, Cecilia Vega, and Sharyn Alfonsi all exited in high-profile moves. The changes also brought new contributors and correspondents to the CBS newsmagazine.
What the Numbers Show: Nielsen measured 7.94 million viewers for Sunday’s premiere, down from the 10 million who watched the 58th season premiere a year ago. Meanwhile, the 25-54 demographic dropped 33% to 1.6 million viewers. The audience decline came despite the program airing after NFL football, which provided a sizable lead-in.
What They Said: “We are so proud of the exceptional journalism on display in our season premiere, and we can’t wait to bring our audience another amazing show this coming Sunday.” -CBS News spokesperson
What It Means: The season premiere gives CBS an early measure of how viewers responded to the program’s new era. However, the audience could change as the season progresses and viewers become more familiar with the revamped lineup.
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