CBS Ratings Drop 38% After 60 Minutes Revamp

The latest episode of 60 Minutes attracted 5.64 million viewers, marking the smallest audience for a sixth season episode in the history of the century.

This figure represents a sharp decline from the previous season, which averaged 9.1 million viewers per episode. That prior season saw a 9% increase in viewership compared to the one before it.

The drop in numbers coincides with a major structural change at CBS News. In May, editor-in-chief Bari Weiss fired several senior staff members, including correspondent Cecilia Vega. Vega's contract was not set to expire until March 2027, yet she was let go without a stated cause.

Vega addressed the changes during a talk at American University in Washington DC on Thursday. She described the process as painful and confusing, noting that she still does not know why she was targeted for termination. She stated that she was fired without cause and found the situation exceptionally disturbing.

The overhaul involved replacing the show's leadership. Weiss hired tech journalist Nick Bilton as the new executive producer. Other departures included correspondent Scott Pelley, who was let go for cause after a dispute with Bilton, and correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, whose contract was not renewed. Executive producer Tanya Simon also left the network.

Vega repeated her earlier allegations that newsroom managers attempted to insert factually untrue information into her reporting. She said she resisted these efforts, along with colleagues Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi. CBS News denied the claims in May, stating that they were not based in reality.

The network is currently owned by David Ellison's Skydance. Vega expressed uncertainty about the long-term strategy for the network under its new ownership. She noted that she does not know what the endgame is and described the corporate direction as a mystery.

Weiss told an industry conference on Wednesday that she is not focused on the show's ratings. Instead, she said her priority is building the network. Vega, who is 49 years old, said she has no idea if she will join another legacy media outlet or work independently in the future.