CBS's FACE THE NATION Posts Largest February Sweep Audience Since 1991

FACE THE NATION posted its largest February sweep audience delivery since 1991 and was the most-watched Sunday morning public affairs broadcast, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the February 2016 sweep.

FACE THE NATION delivered 4.03 million viewers and 0.9/04 in adults 25-54 (the broadcast's best Feb. sweep performance since 2013). FACE THE NATION was up +12% in viewers (from 3.59m) and +13% in adults 25-54 (from 0.8/04) compared to last February.

CBS News' FACE THE NATION was the #1 Sunday morning public affairs program in viewers and second in adults 25-54 (by -0.1) according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Feb.28. FACE THE NATION delivered 3.86 million viewers and 0.9/04 in adults 25-54 - the demographic most important to those who advertise in news. Editor's Note: FACE THE NATION's second half-hour was broadcast contiguously across 77.65% of the CBS affiliates. Compared to the same day last year, FACE THE NATION is up +4% in viewers (from 3.71m) and even in adults 25-54.

Season-to-date, FACE THE NATION is first in viewers (3.78m) and in adults 25-54 (0.8/04, tied). Compared to last season, FACE THE NATION is up +8% in viewers (from 3.51m) and even in adults 25-54.

The Feb. 28 broadcast featured interviews with Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). Host John Dickerson also spoke with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). CBS News Elections Director Anthony Salvanto revealed results of the new CBS News 2016 Battleground Tracker. This week's political panel included Democratic strategist and CNN Senior Political Commentator David Axelrod, Ben Domench of The Federalist; CBS News Contributor and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan; Ruth Marcus of The Washington Post; and CBS News Political Analyst and Slate Chief Political Correspondent Jamelle Bouie.

Mary Hager is the Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-winning FACE THE NATION, one of the longest-running news programs in the history of television.

Follow @jdickerson and @FaceTheNation on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and at www.facethenation.com.

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