EXCLUSIVE:Few people embody the act of balancing legacy media with the digital frontier quite likeBill Owens.
Were not trying to grab people on social media or TikTok by being something that60 Minutesisnt.
We want to use the same language, we dont want to do silly things.
From left: ‘60 Minutes’ correspondents Cecilia Vega, Anderson Cooper, Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Bill Whitaker, Jon Wertheim and Sharyn Alfonsi with executive producer Bill OwensMichele Crowe/CBS
… And theres an audience for that.
I dont care how old you are.
YouTubeis one key route to those who have never heard of Mike Wallace or Andy Rooney.
Bill Owens (Michele Crowe/CBS)
The platform that60 Minutescorporate cousin Viacom once sued for $1 billion is now a lifeline.
Without fanfare, the show last season began posting entire episodes on Wednesday following their Sunday evening premieres.
TheCBStelecast has ranked in the Top 10 of the Nielsen ratings for 16 of the seasons 17 episodes.
5 among total viewers as well as those 18 and older.
I think60 Minutesis called60 Minutesfor a reason, Owens replied when asked for takeaways from the initiative.
One example was a Lesley Stahl-reported segment on 3D printing of houses in Texas.
I would have done that story on any60 Minutesepisode whenever, he said.
But dont expect the approach from the past to apply this time around, Owens advises.
Every four years, we usually do both candidates, as a public service, he said.
I think this election, we need to do probably better than we ever have around that.
Around the issues, around it all.
And on the Democratic side, theyve got their own issues and problems.
I know a lot of people throw things at the TV while watching60 Minutesfrom both sides of the aisle.
Later in the conversation, Owens offered a clarification.
Im not saying we wont interview the president and whoever the nominee is, he said.
But theres a long time between then and now.
And Im not sure things wont happen on both sides.
The southern border, an election flashpoint, has been a recurring area of focus.
The segment, featuring an interview with Gov.
Greg Abbott, will air this Sunday.
Its really hard to find that anywhere else, she said.
Test screenings help keep the level high.
Convened by Owens, they let writers, producers and others weigh in with reactions.
Each segment is screened at least three times.
Asked about it, Owens smiled and quipped, What can you tellme?
Turning more reflective, he added, You cant ignore it.
We happen to be in the business of facts.
Its hard to ignore it.
Owens said the change has gone over well.
Shes thinking about the writing and the storytelling and the legacy of CBS News, he said.
Her bar is super-high, shes bringing a great energy.
Sometimes, that process involves the structure of the show itself.
Rooneys end-of-show commentaries aired for more than 40 years until his death in 2011.
In his absence, the show opted to redistribute the airtime to the three main segments.
Last season, though, Owens determined the ending each week was too abrupt.
That was not something that the audience appreciated, he said.
Which, OK, now youve got peoples attention.
Are you telling them anything thats interesting?
