60 Minutes Ratings Plunge to Historic Lows Under Weiss Leadership

Key points

• Sunday's episode drew 5.64 million total viewers, the lowest for a sixth-season installment since 2000.
• The 25-54 demographic dropped 81% year-over-year, with only 558,000 viewers in that bracket.
• The show was outperformed by CBS dramas Tracker and Marshals, as well as America's Funniest Home Videos.
• Bari Weiss replaced key figures including Scott Pelley, Anderson Cooper, and Sharyn Alfonsi with new talent.
• The network blamed the lack of an NFL lead-in, but analysts point to the loss of veteran correspondents.

Background

This ratings collapse follows a turbulent transition at CBS News. In late 2025, Bari Weiss was installed as editor-in-chief after Paramount Skydance acquired The Free Press. Weiss immediately restructured 60 Minutes, firing executive producer Tanya Simon and several correspondents. Recent internal conflicts, including a dispute with Lesley Stahl over a West Bank segment, have highlighted tensions between editorial independence and new corporate leadership. The current ratings drop is the latest in a series of declines since the September season premiere, which also set a low for openers.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and Yahoo Entertainment emphasize the historic nature of the ratings drop, noting that the 25-54 demographic has not been this low since 2000. They attribute the decline to the removal of veteran stars like Anderson Cooper and Scott Pelley, whose absence has alienated core audiences. Showbiz411 argues that viewers are actively boycotting the show in protest of the new conservative direction, suggesting that the new talent lacks the 'buzz' of previous correspondents. Raw Story highlights the embarrassment of losing to unscripted entertainment shows, noting that internal staff had predicted such a failure. Conversely, CBS News declined to comment publicly, though a source told the Daily Beast that the network expected a dip due to the absence of a strong NFL lead-in, a factor that typically funnels viewers into the 60 Minutes slot.

Why it matters

The ratings collapse threatens the financial viability of 60 Minutes, a key driver for CBS's Sunday primetime lineup and Paramount Skydance's broader strategy. A significant drop in the 25-54 demographic directly impacts advertising revenue. Furthermore, the failure of the Weiss-led overhaul raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the network's editorial direction and its ability to retain audience loyalty in a competitive media landscape.

What to watch

CBS News and Paramount Skydance will likely face increased pressure to reverse the ratings trend. The network may need to reconsider its staffing decisions or adjust its editorial strategy to regain viewer trust. Upcoming episodes, particularly those leading up to the Tuesday election, will be critical in determining whether the current leadership can stabilize the show or if further declines will force a strategic pivot.