The popular TV series “Yellowstone” made its broadcast debut on CBS this past Sunday and drew an impressive 6.6 million viewers. This is a significant increase from its original premiere back in 2018, which attracted 2.8 million viewers. It’s not surprising that the numbers have grown since then, as CBS reaches a much larger audience than Paramount Network, where the show initially aired.
In fact, the recent Season 5 premiere of “Yellowstone” on Paramount Network drew 8.8 million viewers, and when simulcasts across Country Music Television, TVLand, and Pop TV were included, the number climbed to 10.5 million. This shows the immense popularity and appeal the show has garnered over the years.
One factor that contributed to the success of Sunday’s episode was its lead-in from the long-running news magazine program “60 Minutes,” which drew a massive 11.4 million viewers. The combination of these two shows created a strong programming block for CBS.
The decision to air “Yellowstone” on CBS is part of the network’s strategy to fill its fall lineup amid ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Including “Yellowstone” and other titles from the Paramount ecosystem makes sense from a viewership perspective, as this action-packed and highly engaging series deserves a broadcast platform to reach a wider audience.
“Yellowstone” is the brainchild of Taylor Sheridan and has become a full-fledged universe within the Paramount Global network. It has spawned prequel series such as “1883” and “1923,” both of which premiered on Paramount+. “1883” will even have a spinoff called “Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” while “6666” will air on Paramount Network. Additionally, there are plans for a sequel to “1923” called “1944” and another untitled spinoff in the works.
The success of “Yellowstone” on its broadcast debut on CBS is a testament to the show’s popularity and the desire of fans to see it reach a wider audience. With its intense drama, captivating characters, and sprawling narrative, “Yellowstone” has found its rightful home on broadcast TV.
Sources:
– Variety: https://variety.com/t/yellowstone/
– Variety: https://variety.com/t/paramount-network/
– Variety: https://variety.com/t/cbs/
– Variety: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/cbs-fall-2023-schedule-yellowstone-seal-team-ghosts-1235672227/
– Variety: https://variety.com/2023/tv/columns/yellowstone-cbs-debut-doesnt-belong-cable-1235704670/
– Variety: https://variety.com/t/taylor-sheridan/
