CBS News Wins in Viewers for Third Consecutive Week

For the third consecutive week of the 2015-2016 TV season, more people watched portions of CBS News' broadcasts than news programs on any other broadcast network, according to Nielsen most current ratings for the week ending Oct. 11. An estimated 85.4 million people watched portions of CBS news programs so far this season.

More important, an estimated 30.8 million of those tuning into portions of CBS News broadcasts this season were adults between the ages of 25-54, the key demographic for those advertising in news.

CBS News had strong Nielsen performances across the board, with the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY and CBS THIS MORNING each posting the largest year-to-year percentage growth among the competition; 48 HOURS and 60 MINUTES were each the most-watched non-sports broadcasts on Saturday and Sunday respectively; CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD and FACE THE NATION were the #1 Sunday morning news and Sunday morning public affairs broadcasts with viewers; and CBS THIS MORNING: SATURDAY posted double-digit year-to-year percentage gains with viewers.

CBS News' original reporting last week featured Steve Kroft's one-on-one interview with President Barack Obama; John Dickerson's sit-down with presidential hopeful Donald Trump; David Begnaud's extensive coverage of the flooding in South Carolina; Anthony Mason's interview with billionaire Charles Koch; Troy Roberts' investigation into the murder of a wealthy California couple; and Norah O'Donnell, CHARLIE ROSE and Gayle King's interview of presidential hopeful Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Here's a recap of how CBS News broadcasts performed last week, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings:

The CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY was the only network evening news broadcast to post year-to-year growth in viewers and the key adults 25-54 demographic for the week ending Oct. 9. The broadcast delivered 6.71 million viewers (up +8% from 6.22m viewers) and a 1.3/06 with adults 25-54 (up +8% from 1.2/05). The broadcast closed the viewership gap with NBC by 770,000 viewers and with ABC by 740,000 viewers. Editor's Note: Ratings for the week ending Oct. 9 and the year-ago comparison represent a four-day average (Monday-Wednesday, Friday) as the Thursday broadcast aired under an amended title due to THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. Season-to-date, the broadcast is delivering 6.83 million viewers (up +7% from 6.41m) and even in adults 25-54 (1.3/06) compared to last season.

60 MINUTES was Sunday's #1 non-sports program on Oct. 11 and finished the week as the third most-watched primetime broadcast. The broadcast delivered 15.41 million and a 3.9/11 in adults 25-54. Season-to-date, the 60 MINUTES is delivering 14.22 million viewers (+25% from 11.40m) and 3.3/09 with adults 25-54 (up +38% from 2.4/07) compared to last season.

FACE THE NATION drew nearly 4 million viewers and was the #1 Sunday morning public affairs broadcast on Oct. 11. FACE THE NATION delivered 3.79 million viewers (up +7% from 3.53m) and a 0.7/04 in adults 25-54. The broadcast posted its largest audience since May 2015. Editor's Note: FACE THE NATION's second half-hour was broadcast contiguously across 57.4% of the CBS affiliates. Season-to-date, FACE THE NATION is #1 in viewers (up +2% 3.46m from 3.41m).

CBS THIS MORNING was the only network morning news broadcast to post year-to-year gains among viewers for the week ending Oct. 9. The broadcast delivered 3.42 million viewers (up +9% from 3.14m) and a 0.8/07 with adults 25-54. The broadcast closed the viewership gap with NBC by 480,000 viewers, and cut the deficit with ABC by 840,000 viewers. Less than 1 million viewers separate CBS THIS MORNING from NBC (980,000). Season-to-date, CBS THIS MORNING is up +11% in viewers (3.46m from 3.11m) and even in adults 25-54 (0.8/07) compared to last year.
CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD was the #1 Sunday morning news program with viewers on Oct. 11. The broadcast delivered 5.04 million viewers and a 0.9/05 with adults 25-54. Season-to-date, CBS SUNDAY MORNING is delivering 5.12 million viewers and a 1.0/06 with adults 25-54.
48 HOURS was Saturday's #1 non-sports program with viewers on Oct. 10. 48 HOURS was also the most-watched broadcast at 10:00 PM, delivering 4.77 million viewers and a 1.1/03 with adults 25-54. Compared to the previous week, 48 HOURS added +200,000 viewers (up +4% from 4.57m viewers). Compared to the same night last year, 48 HOURS was up +3% in viewers. Season-to-date, 48 HOURS is delivering 4.86 million viewers and a 1.2/04 with adults 25-54.

CBS THIS MORNING: SATURDAY delivered 2.23 million viewers (up +30% year-to-year from 1.72m) and even in adults 25-54 (0.5/04) on Oct. 10. Season-to-date, CBS THIS MORNING: SATURDAY is delivering 2.23 million viewers (up +14% from 1.96m) and even in adults 25-54 (0.5/04) compared to last year.

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