For 30 years after its inception in 1968, "60 Minutes" on CBS was one of the highest-rated shows on television. Then its ratings tanked -- bottoming out at an average of 11 million last year.
But just when the show was being written off as old hat, it's back in a big way, with up to 15 million per episode through February.
The turnaround is largely due to a renewed commitment
to hard news, including coverage of the banking crisis and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with exclusive sit-downs with the Obamas and Captain Sully and his heroic crew. "Our success is a
direct reflection of America's hunger for news," says executive producer Jeff Fager. He says the show's approach paid off as the economy hit the skids. "60 Minutes" has also embraced timelier, less
evergreen segments-meaning more harried, deadline reporting.
An additional boost has come from a less serious source: the NFL, which has surged in the ratings as well, providing a
strong Sunday night lead-in for "60 Minutes."
advertisement
advertisement
Read the whole story at Newsweek »