CBS's FACE THE NATION is Nation's No. 1 Public Affairs Program with Over 4 Million Viewers

CBS News' FACE THE NATION was the #1 Sunday morning public affairs program with over 4 million viewers on May 21, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings. FACE THE NATION delivered 4.15 million viewers and 0.8/04 in adults 25-54, the demographic most important to those who advertise in news. FACE THE NATION posted double-digit year-to-year percentage growth in viewers (up +18%, from 3.53m). (Editor's Note: FACE THE NATION's second half-hour was broadcast contiguously across 80.6% of the CBS affiliates.)

FACE THE NATION posted its best May sweep delivery in viewers in at least 29 years, which marked the start of the CBS electronic sweep records. In the May 2017 sweep, FACE THE NATION was the #1 public affairs program in viewers, delivering 3.70 million viewers and 0.7/04 in adults 25-54.

Television year-to-date, FACE THE NATION posted its best season audience since the advent of people meters, averaging 3.81 million viewers and 0.8/04 in adults 25-54.

The May 21 broadcast opened with an update from President Trump's first foreign trip from CBS News White House and senior foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan. Dickerson then interviewed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), followed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Next Dickerson discussed the latest on the Russia probe with CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford and CBS News justice and homeland security correspondent Jeff Pegues. Then CBS News elections director Anthony Salvanto discussed the latest results from the CBS News Nation Tracker, and CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reported from Tehran, Iran. The political roundtable featured Ed O'Keefe from The Washington Post and a contributor to CBS News; The Atlantic's Molly Ball; The Washington Post's David Ignatius; and National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru.

Mary Hager is the executive producer of the Emmy award-winning FACE THE NATION, one of the longest-running news programs in the history of television.

Follow @jdickerson and @FaceTheNation on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and at www.facethenation.com.

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