"60 MINUTES" IS THE NUMBER-THREE PROGRAM FOR THE WEEK

The CBS News Magazine Makes Nielsen's Top 10 for the Third Straight Week and

The Eighth Time in 12 Weeks -- Five of Those as Number Three or Higher

60 MINUTES' large audience Sunday night made the CBS News magazine America's third most-watched program for the week - the third straight week it made Nielsen's top-10 list and the eighth time in 12 weeks. It was also the fifth time this season that 60 MINUTES finished at number three or better in the weekly rankings.

The hit broadcast drew 18.8 million viewers, besting all other primetime programs last week with the exception of the NBC Sunday night NFL game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys and CBS'S CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION on Thursday.

60 MINUTES scored a household rating of 11.6/18, which was also good for a third-place finish.

60 MINUTES is ranked 10th for the season, averaging 16.1 million viewers Sundays and enjoying season-to-date double-digit percentage increases in total viewers. The broadcast is also experiencing significant percentage increases in all other key demos. It has been the number-one program for the week two times, including for its interview with Barack and Michelle Obama, broadcast Nov. 16, which remains the most-watched primetime program of the season.

Sunday's 60 MINUTES featured a Lesley Stahl profile of House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank, Scott Pelley's report on the next wave of potentially toxic mortgages and a profile of USC football coach Pete Carroll by Byron Pitts.

Jeff Fager is the executive producer of 60 MINUTES.