CBS’ George Cheeks Concedes This Season’s Total Viewers Ratings Crown to NBC: ‘Legendary February Will Be the Reason for That’

By Michael Schneider

Michael Schneider

Variety Editor at Large

Latest

• CBS to Air First-Ever ‘The Price Is Right’ Live Special, Adds Kids Choice Awards Simulcast 2 hours ago
• CBS Says It Will Develop New Late Night Concepts After Axing Stephen Colbert, but ‘Immediate Profitability’ Is the Focus With New Byron Allen Deal 3 hours ago
• CBS Reveals Fall 2026 Schedule: ‘Matlock,’ ‘Ghosts’ Held for Midseason as Three New Series Set Premieres 3 hours ago

Paramount chair of TV media George Cheeks is gracious in defeat. CBS won’t end the year as the most-watched broadcast network, but he notes there’s a good reason for that: NBC’s “Legendary February.”

“In full transparency, while this year is undeniably strong for CBS… CBS is not going to be number one in total viewers,” Cheeks told reporters on Wednesday as CBS unveiled its fall schedule. “‘Legendary February,’ and NBC, will be the reason for that. With more than 120 hours of Olympics and NFL, including the Super Bowl, primetime sports for this season on NBC is up 82% year over year.

Related Stories

Bill Maher Will in Fact Receive Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for Humor, After Trump's White House Called It 'Fake News'