60 Minutes has long been the most-watched news program. That continued during the 2025-2026 season.
What We Know: The most recent season of the show marked the 52nd consecutive season that 60 Minutes was the top news program. It was the 58th season of the program. The success comes after Tanya Simon replaced Bill Owens as Executive Producer of the program. Owens departed over clashes with management and ownership over editorial control over the program.
What the Numbers Show: The news magazine averaged 9.1 million viewers throughout the season. That marks a 9% increase compared to the 8.3 million it averaged last season. Additionally, the network saw a 5% increase in the key Adults 25-54 demographic compared to last season. Digitally, 60 Minutes saw 2.5 billion views across its major platforms. Views on TikTok rose 85% year-over-year.
What Remains Unclear: What changes will come to 60 Minutes. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi has alluded to her contract situation as stating it’s likely she won’t return to the show. Anderson Cooper, who spent 20 years working on the program, will not return. Reports have suggested that CBS News chief Bari Weiss is unhappy with the direction of the show and hopes for major changes.
What It Means: The power of the 60 Minutes brand is still on display. Despite the internal turmoil, including the widely publicized issues with the CECOT story, the show still performed well. Does a strong NFL lead-in help 60 Minutes during the early season? Undeniably. Has it been helped by the changes in Nielsen measurement? Probably. But it is clear it still has a dedicated and loyal audience.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
