‘60 Minutes,’ ‘Streets Of Laredo’ Bolster Cbs’ Ratings

The “60 Minutes” tobacco story flap may have been bad for journalism, but it turned out to be good for ratings.

CBS’ news magazine drew its biggest audience of the 1995-96 season and was the network’s top-ranked program last week, according to figures released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

The network dropped most of an interview critical of the tobacco industry - a move denounced by journalists and observers as capitulation to corporate intimidation.

CBS’ lawyers had balked at airing the industry insider’s comments because of his nondisclosure employment contract. “60 Minutes” substituted a report on how cigarette makers try to block information from getting out, and it included the insider’s complaints about how he was being muzzled.

The news magazine and a strong showing by the miniseries “Streets of Laredo” helped struggling CBS to its highest-rated week of the season.

But NBC remained on top as the most-watched network for Nov. 6-12 as its Thursday night lineup, topped by No. 1-ranked “ER,” proved more indomitable than ever.

More than 48 million people, its biggest audience yet, viewed the medical drama as NBC posted its highest-rated night of regular series programming since Nov. 2, 1989.

NBC earned a leading 11.7 average rating and 19 share for the November sweeps week, followed by ABC’s 11.4 rating and 18 share. CBS was third with a 10.5 rating and 17 share.

Fox Broadcasting Co., which programs 15 of the 22 prime-time hours, posted a seasonbest 8.2 rating and 13 share.