CBS Mornings posted its lowest-rated week in program history during the week of July 13, according to final Nielsen data released Wednesday.
The CBS broadcast averaged just under 1.6 million total viewers — the first time the show has ever fallen below that benchmark — and only 220,000 adults ages 25-54.Despite operating with a significantly smaller distribution footprint, FOX & Friends continues to close the gap on its broadcast network rival in the competitive morning television battle.
In their direct head-to-head competition (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday-Friday), CBS Mornings held a narrow lead of just 131,000 total viewers last week, representing only a 9% advantage. One year ago, during the same period, CBS enjoyed a much more comfortable 30% lead.
Year-over-year trends further highlight the shift: CBS Mornings viewership declined 13%, while FOX & Friends grew 4%.
The ratings performance underscores growing pressure on CBS’s morning program as cable news competitors, particularly FOX & Friends, steadily erode the traditional dominance of the broadcast networks in the morning daypart.