Commentary

'60 Minutes': Counting Trump Time, Advertisers Blinking?

by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, April 30, 2025

CBS’ “60 Minutes” -- the high-profile, longtime gold-standard TV news show -- is in an impossible situation. And yes, its traditional on-set clock may be ticking.

Where do TV news advertisers for the program stand?

Well, with press freedoms seemingly on the line, the show’s longtime executive producer Bill Owens wasn’t waiting to see. Shockingly, he departed over editorial meddling by corporate higher ups.

This comes after a $20 billion lawsuit by President Trump against the show. The suit itself is frivolous, according to analysts, but there could be some deeper connective problems.

The “election interference” lawsuit focuses on an interview with then Presidential candidate Kamala Harris last year,, one where CBS did editing -- something the network and every TV news show has done as part of the journalistic process since the dawn of news reporting time.

A complicating factor is that Paramount Global is on the back foot -- fighting for its media life in a nonstop competitive, disruptive, streaming-centric world where the company is far behind. Netflix isn’t just the leader, it's pulling away, with only Walt Disney as an outside chance of keeping pace.

All this is why Paramount Global inked a $8 billion deal to be sold to Skydance Media.

But “60 Minutes” is in the crosshairs because Trump may continue his grudge with the news media -- in a different way.
The FCC may find a way not to approve the merger because, in this political environment, there are seemingly crazy, out of the box, never before seen White House executive order moves -- 142 of them so far.

The new Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr said possible complaints against “60 Minutes” are “likely to arise.”

In this political world, it seems anything can happen -- and publicly traded companies are doing everything they can to avoid lawsuits. That's why many CEOs have taken one-on-one meetings with Trump.

Think how quickly Disney-ABC settled its Trump weak defamation suit, agreeing to pay him $15 million. In that suit, George Stephanopoulos was allegedly accused of slander by the President by saying Trump was liable for rape in the case of E. Jean Carroll. Technically, the court had deemed it to be "sexual abuse."

Do the corporate heads at CBS stand with the independence of its new organization -- or does it cave to Trump to try to get a quick deal done?

And do regular TV advertisers care?

Here are some of their basics: So far this season the show is averaging around 8.5 million viewers a night during the 2024-2025 TV season, making it the third-most-watched non-sports broadcast on TV. The show is still a big deal.

Of course, it’s not completely all about the numbers. Perhaps there is still some value in truth, facts, and information for those business partners who back the show.

The clock may be ticking: count all those 60 minutes.

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6 comments about "'60 Minutes': Counting Trump Time, Advertisers Blinking?".

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Michael Giuseffi from American Media Inc, April 30, 2025 at 2:23 p.m.
Media must stand up to this authoritarian monster. It is understandable that media companies will try to avoid problems with the Trump administration when principal and shareholders profits are on the line. But these mogels must know that caving to a bully gets you nowhere, the demands will keep coming. Furthermore if you bargain away your rights and do not stand by the rule of law, that rule of law will not be there to protect you when you need it.

Remember, the rich and powerful are protected by the rule of law but the law does not apply to them. The poor are subject to the rule of law but it does not protect them.
Reply

Mark Sutton from NHR replied, April 30, 2025 at 3:53 p.m.

'60 Minutes' and its supporters may decry authoritarianism, but they didn’t object several months ago when the program advocated Germany’s fascist law of jailing civilians for posting “misinformation” on the Internet. ’60 Minutes’ would have no issue putting people into jail for posting that “men can’t get pregnant.”

How can supporters of the Free Press also advocate jailing people for Free Speech? The hypocrisy is amazing.

Also, the major issues with ’60 Minutes’ and Shari Redstone is not the merger, but rather the biased coverage they have done regarding the Hamas-Israel conflict. Openly taking the side of Hamas and Hezbollah? What a terrible position, one that is done by rabid antisemites.

Nothing has changed for ’60 Minutes’ when it was caught colluding with the John Kerry campaign in unseating President Bush Jr. back in 2004. It was liberally biased then and more so in 2025. A complete change is needed there.

Michael Giuseffi from American Media Inc, April 30, 2025 at 4:04 p.m.

Mark- With all due respect, watch that story about Germany again. 60 Minutes did not endorse the policy of laws against hate speech. They merely reported on it. I have mixed feelings about the law. Also reporting on the heavy hand of Israel in response to Oct 7th is not biased it is factual, and you may not like the facts. Regarding the coverage of John Kerry, I doubt it was as biased as the Fox/Right Wing coverage of the fake swiftboat claims. Dont tell me you fell for that too?

Ben B from Retired, April 30, 2025 at 9:22 p.m.

It's a slippary slope what Carr is doing at The FCC and weaponizing it. I hope that CBS doesn't cave to Trump just to get that deal with Skydance done just to appease Trump for the approval of The FCC that's just plain wrong in my opinion. As for Kamala's interview even with the edit she didn't do well in that 60 Minutes interview or those friendly media outlets either.

That is why there should've been a legit open primaries for the democratic side Kamala couldn't beat the field in my opinion.

Michael Giuseffi from American Media Inc replied, May 1, 2025 at 8:36 a.m.

Full agreement on both points Ben.

Tony Jarvis from Olympic Media Consultancy, May 2, 2025 at 11:23 a.m.

Michael: As usual advertisers and their brands need to double their support for quality, factual, verified journalism and media content. There is surely a unique brand campaign associated with sponsoring/supporting 60 Minutes. i suggest they are wasting $Billions on the various social media content sewers that can be transferred to more cost effective media. Ask any innovative media agency.