CBS’s “60 Minutes” season debut on Sept. 13 draws lower ratings than expected, according to two outlets that review the program’s performance. Variety reports the episode sees an estimated 21% decline, pointing to potential causes tied to what viewers watch immediately before the newsmagazine.
Both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter connect the weaker performance to the lead-in from CBS’s NFL coverage. The premiere airs after an NFL game that delivers a smaller audience than hoped, which can reduce the number of viewers who carry over to the subsequent “60 Minutes” broadcast.
Variety also raises an additional question: whether the drop reflects not only the NFL scheduling but also the broader changes CBS News management has made to the show. It notes the Sept. 13 episode is the first after CBS News chief Bari Weiss implements host and other changes. The Hollywood Reporter similarly frames the premiere as arriving after those adjustments, though both sources acknowledge the NFL lead-in as a likely factor affecting the numbers.
