The long-running 60 Minutes has received criticism, even from within, over a recent development. It seems that viewers agree, as the show’s ratings appeared to have taken a drastic turn. However, the show might have just pulled a move to “help” the current season’s number.
Ratings Took A Turn With 60 Minutes‘ Recent Sunday Broadcast
60 Minutes is a long-running series that debuted on CBS back in 1968. Primarily filmed in New York, the series sets itself apart from other series by highlighting reporter-focused investigations.
Notably, correspondents also rarely share the screen with each other. Various presenters have worked on the show throughout the years, including Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, and Bill Whitaker.
As previously reported, the series recently came under fire after pulling a report concerning the El Salvador mega-prison CECOT. The report has since aired, but it proved a little too late, at least for the ratings.
According to Nielsen numbers, as shared by The Guardian‘s Jeremy Barr on X, the January 18 broadcast earned 4.9 million viewers on average. This is significantly less than the 8.32 million viewers the show had on average during the 2024-2025 season.
That said, the number won’t impact the show’s season average. This was reportedly due to the episode using a slightly different name.
Viewers Also Suspect There Was A Special Reason The Episode Debuted This Past Sunday
CNN media analyst Brian Stelter further discussed the move in a reply to Barr’s previous share. He shared, “CBS also knew Sunday’s episode would be low rated, so for Nielsen measurement purposes, CBS called the show ’60 Minutes Presents’ so that Sunday’s ratings won’t weigh down the season average for ’60 Minutes.’ This is a labeling trick all the networks use at various times.”
The report from Sharyn Alfonsi was originally meant to air on December 21. Reportedly, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss pulled it at the time due to not having an on-camera response from the White House.
CBS also knew Sunday’s episode would be low rated, so for Nielsen measurement purposes CBS called the show “60 Minutes Presents” so that Sunday’s ratings won’t weigh down the season average for “60 Minutes.” This is a labeling trick all the networks use at various times https://t.co/wx5alxcfqZ
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 21, 2026
As previously reported, Alfonsi criticized the move in an internal memo. At the time, she wrote, “If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a ‘kill switch’ for any reporting they find inconvenient.”
The episode ultimately aired without a comment from the White House. At the start of the segment, Alfonsi shared, “Since November, 60 Minutes has made several attempts to interview key Trump administration officials on camera about our story. They declined our requests.”
While the episode eventually aired this past Sunday, there had been concern that it was intentionally aired at this time to “bury” it. At the time, the episode went up against the NFL playoff games.
As one fan wrote on Reddit, “The same night when two of the largest media markets in the country will be watching playoff football. Not a coincidence.” Another wrote, “Buried in a death slot against Rams-Bears on NBC. As Weiss intended.”
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.
