Sunday’s 60 Minutes, which featured a Bill Whitaker investigation, in partnership with the Washington Post, into the opioid epidemic, drew 13.34 million viewers making it the No. 5 show on TV last week.
The story didn’t just draw a big audience, it’s already affecting change. It’s led Pres. Trump’s drug czar nominee, Rep. Tom Marino, to withdraw. Marino introduced a bill which weakened the DEA’s authority to effectively monitor large prescription drug shipments.
At a news conference yesterday, Trump said he watched the 60 Minutes story and said he would declare a state of emergency on the opioid drug epidemic next week.
Compared to the same night last year, 60 Minutes was up +28 percent in viewers, up +68 percent in the A25-54 demo, and up +92 percent in A18-49 demo.