Viewership for the Sunday broadcast of CBS News’ “60 Minutes” dropped 26% from the previous week when the program benefited from an NFL game lead-in, according to data cited by Variety.
IMDb noted that the episode featured the debut of new correspondent Ross Douthat conducting a wide-ranging interview with President Donald Trump.
The Sunday telecast drew 7.8 million overall viewers, marking a sharp decline from the 11 million viewers who tuned in the week prior when an NFL football game aired immediately before the broadcast, Variety reported. The show pulled in 918,000 viewers among adults aged 25 to 54.
That figure represents a 69% tumble from the same episode the previous year, which brought in nearly 2 million viewers in the demo, and a 59% drop compared to the week-earlier episode’s 2.23 million demo viewers, according to Variety.
Despite the steep audience drops compared to football-boosted episodes, Variety reported that the ratings represented the highest figures the current season has generated without an NFL game preceding the broadcast.
CBS News executives face ongoing pressure to establish stability at the weekly news program following a significant editorial overhaul at the end of the previous season, Variety noted. That restructuring included the installation of Nick Bilton as executive producer, alongside high-profile departures and the addition of new correspondents such as Douthat, Ariel Levy, and Sebastian Junger.
My extended interview with President Trump:https://t.co/RON9JoL5zs
During the Sunday segment, Douthat questioned President Trump on several contentious political and personal topics. Variety reported that the new correspondent pressed Trump on the recent midterm election losses suffered by Republicans, inquired whether the president believed he would go to heaven or hell, and asked if he could refrain from insulting opponents for the greater good of the nation.
The interview drew immediate attention and praise from media commentators across the political spectrum. Variety reported that Fox News commentator Brit Hume and CNN media analyst Brian Stelter both lauded Douthat’s interviewing style on the broadcast.
RatedNews reported that the conversation also attracted commentary from Comedy Central host Jon Stewart upon his return to The Daily Show. RatedNews stated that Stewart addressed Trump’s appearance on the CBS News program following Democratic gains in the midterm elections.
Alongside Douthat's segment, Sunday’s broadcast featured newly appointed senior global affairs Trevor Phillips interviewing far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen in France during local protests, according to Variety.
