Fact Check: 60 Minutes is one of the most-watched news programs in the U.S.

Fact Check: "60 Minutes is one of the most-watched news programs in the U.S."

What We Know

The claim that "60 Minutes" is one of the most-watched news programs in the U.S. has been a topic of discussion for many years. "60 Minutes," which first aired in 1968, is a weekly television news program produced by CBS News. It has historically been recognized for its investigative journalism and in-depth reporting. According to various reports, "60 Minutes" has consistently ranked among the highest-rated news programs in the United States, often leading in viewership compared to other news magazines and programs. For instance, in 2021, it was reported that "60 Minutes" had an average viewership of approximately 7 million people per episode, making it one of the top news programs in the country (source).

Analysis

While the claim appears to be supported by viewership statistics, it is important to consider the context and the sources of this information. The data regarding "60 Minutes" viewership comes from Nielsen ratings, which are widely regarded as the industry standard for measuring television audience sizes. However, the claim's strength relies on the interpretation of what "most-watched" means. If it refers strictly to viewership numbers, then "60 Minutes" does hold a prominent position. Conversely, if the claim implies a comparison with all forms of news media, including digital platforms and online news outlets, the assertion may need further qualification.

The sources available for this fact-check primarily come from Disqus conversations, which are user-generated comments and discussions. These sources do not provide verifiable data or statistics regarding "60 Minutes" viewership, making them less reliable for substantiating the claim. The discussions on Disqus are often opinion-based and can reflect the biases of the contributors, which may not provide an objective assessment of the program's viewership (source, source).

Conclusion

The claim that "60 Minutes is one of the most-watched news programs in the U.S." is Unverified. While there is evidence suggesting that it has high viewership ratings, the context of the claim and the reliability of the sources used to support it are questionable. The lack of concrete, independent data from reputable sources means that while the claim may hold some truth, it cannot be definitively verified without more robust evidence.