Brief

CBS’s “60 Minutes” tops last‑season average but gains only 50,000 viewers despite NFL lead‑in

The Sunday broadcast drew 10.2 million viewers, surpassing last season’s average but showing only a small increase over the same week last year.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:30:06 GMT

CBS News’ flagship newsmagazine "60 Minutes" attracted an average of 10.2 million viewers on Sunday, according to Variety, marking the first time the program has exceeded its prior‑season average of about 9.1 million.

What happened

The episode featured an interview with Republican Senator Thom Tillis, a segment on AI’s impact on the U.S. workforce, and a piece on the restoration of Italy’s 13th‑century Basilica of Saint Francis using lasers and high‑tech cameras. Nielsen data show the broadcast drew roughly 2 million viewers in the key 25‑to‑54 demographic, beating last season’s 1.45 million average for that group.

What the reports add

Variety notes that the show’s viewership was only 50,000 higher than the comparable broadcast a year earlier, which attracted about 10.15 million viewers. The outlet also highlights that CBS Sports’ NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders drew 28.4 million viewers, the network’s most‑watched NFL telecast of the season.

What was said

Variety reports that Bari Weiss, CBS News editor‑in‑chief, oversaw a staff overhaul that included replacing longtime executive producer Tanya Simon with Nick Bilton and the departure of correspondents Scott Pelley, Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi. Anderson Cooper left after his contract ended.

How it came about

The ratings lift follows a chaotic end‑of‑season reshuffle at "60 Minutes," which Variety says aimed to stabilize the program after a 9 % overall viewership uptick but amid pressure to maintain advertiser‑friendly numbers.

Key facts

• "60 Minutes" averaged 10.2 million viewers on Sunday, Oct 4, 2026. (variety.com)
• The episode surpassed last season’s average of about 9.1 million viewers. (variety.com)
• Viewership was only 50,000 higher than the same week a year earlier (10.15 million). (variety.com)
• Key 25‑to‑54 demographic reached approximately 2 million viewers, up from 1.45 million last season. (variety.com)
• CBS Sports’ Chiefs‑Raiders game drew 28.4 million viewers, the network’s biggest NFL telecast of the season. (variety.com)

Sources

• [1] variety.com — originally reported as “’60 Minutes’ Beats Last Season’s Viewership Bar for First Time, But Football Brings Only Small Boost”