CBS morning newscast beats ‘Today’ for first time in 27 years

By Matt Collins Article may include affiliate links

“CBS This Morning” delivered its most competitive viewership since 1993 for its post Super Bowl show.

The network’s perennially last place show managed to slip above “Today” in total viewers Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, the day after CBS carried the Super Bowl.

CBS reports 3.301 million people watched that day. Other ratings data show the winning streak did not continue past that day, however.

The single day win marks the first time CBS has after taken “Today” in the ratings since April 8, 1993 (during that time, CBS broadcast both the previously version of “CBS This Morning” and “The Early Show” with a slew of different anchors over the years.

NBC’s “Today” still managed to win against both CBS and ABC in the adults age 25-54 demographic for the 77th consecutive week.

“CBS This Morning” had an estimate 841,000 viewers in the demo Feb. 8, while NBC averaged 990,000 and ABC’s “Good Morning America” 852,000 over the course of that same week.

“CTM” has posted promising growth over the years since it debuted in its current form that debuted in 2012. The show has survived the ouster of original co-anchor Erica Hill after sixth months, co-anchor Charlie Rose leaving under a cloud of misconduct scandal and the departure of John Dickerson and Norah O’Donnell for other jobs within CBS.

Its current lineup includes Gayle King, who is the only holdover from the original lineup and frequently takes the role of de facto “lead anchor” and Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil.