MORE PEOPLE HAVE WATCHED CBS NEWS THAN NEWS ON ANY OTHER BROADCAST NETWORK TWELVE WEEKS INTO THE TV SEASON

More viewers have watched CBS News than news on any other broadcast network twelve weeks into the 2015-16 television season, according to Nielsen most current ratings for the week ending Dec. 13, 2015.

Nielsen estimates more than 137.8 million people have watched all or part of a CBS News broadcast since the season started in September, with 54.9 million of those viewers being between the ages of 25-54, the demographic desired by those who advertise in news.

For the week ending Dec. 13, an estimated 49.4 million people watched CBS News, which was also more than watched news on any other broadcast network.

Last week's broadcasts featured such original reporting Scott Pelley's "60 Minutes" interview with Michael Botticelli, director of the National Drug Control Policy and Bill Whitaker's profile of "Star Wars" director J.J. Abrams; Major Garrett's reports on the presidential campaign trail for the CBS EVENING NEWS; John Dickerson's interview with Secretary of State John Kerry, Republican presidential candidate Ohio Governor John Kasich, and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) on FACE THE NATION; Tracy Smith's CBS SUNDAY MORNING profile of Will Smith; Richard Schlesinger's updated 48 HOURS report on a former jet fighter pilot charged with killing his wife; and CBS THIS MORNING's interviews with Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy, Carole King and ex-White House advisor Fran Townsend.

Here's a recap of how CBS News broadcasts are performing this season according to Nielsen most current ratings and how those broadcasts performed last week, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings:

CBS THIS MORNING was the only network morning news broadcast to add viewers and grow year-to-year in the key news demographics, marking the broadcast's 38th consecutive month of year-to-year ratings growth for the week ending Dec. 11. The broadcast delivered 3.57 million viewers (+9%, from 3.29m last year), a 0.9/07 with adults 25-54(+13%, from 0.8/06), a 1.0/08 with women 25-54 (+25%, from 0.8/06) and a 0.7/05 with women 18-49 (+17%, from 0.6/05).

CBS THIS MORNING closed the viewership gap with ABC by 840,000 viewers and with NBC by 660,000 viewers. Season-to-date, CBS THIS MORNING is the only network morning news broadcast to add viewers, delivering a 3.48 million viewers (+8%, from 3.23m last year) and a 0.8/07 with adults 25-54 (even with last year).

The CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY was the only network evening news broadcast to post year-to-year gains in the key news demographics, for the week ending Dec. 11. The broadcast delivered 7.48 million viewers (+2% from 7.35m last year) and a 1.5/06 with adults 25-54 (+7%, from 1.4/05). The CBS EVENING NEWS cut the viewer deficit with NBC by 520,000 viewers and with ABC by 280,000. CBS also cut the difference in adults 25-54 with ABC to just -0.1, the Network's closest competitive position to ABC since the week ending March 10, 2014. Season-to-date, the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY is even in adults 25-54 (1.4/06) and delivered the largest audience gains among the network evening news broadcasts (+5%, 7.36m from 6.98m) compared to last season.

FACE THE NATION was the #1 Sunday morning public affairs program with adults 25-54 and viewers and beat its nearest competitor by +580,000 viewers, on Dec. 13. FACE THE NATION delivered 3.76 million viewers (+17%, from 3.21 last year) and a 0.8/04 in adults 25-54 (+14% from 0.7/03). Editor's Note: FACE THE NATION's second half-hour was broadcast contiguously across 57.4% of the CBS affiliates. Season-to-date, FACE THE NATION is #1 in viewers, delivering 3.51 million viewers (+6%, from 3.32m last year), while also generating a 0.7/03 with adults 25-54.

60 MINUTES was the #1 news program in the nation and the #10 program overall on Dec. 13. 60 MINUTES delivered 10.65 million viewers and a 2.2/06 with adults 25-54. 60 MINUTES was Sunday's top non-sports program in viewers. Season-to-date, 60 MINUTES is the nation's #1 news program, delivering 13.59 million viewers and a 3.1/08 with adults 25-54.

CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD was the #1 Sunday morning news program with adults 25-54 and viewers on Dec. 13. The broadcast delivered 5.77 million viewers and a 1.3/07 in adults 25-54. Season-to-date, CBS SUNDAY MORNING is the #1 Sunday morning news program with adults 25-54 and viewers, delivering 5.58 million viewers and a 1.2/06 with adults 25-54.

48 HOURS delivered 4.04 million viewers and a 1.0/03 with adults 25-54 on Dec. 12. Season-to-date, 48 HOURS is Saturday's #1 prime broadcast with viewers, delivering 5.39 million viewers and a 1.4/04 with adults 25-54.

CBS THIS MORNING: SATURDAY posted double-digit percentage gains in adults 25-54 and viewers on Dec. 12. The broadcast delivered 2.29 million viewers (+16%, from 1.97m last year) and a 0.6/04 with adults 25-54 (+20%, from 0.5/04). Season-to-date, CBS THIS MORNING: SATURDAY is delivering 2.20 million viewers (+7%, from 2.06m last year ) and a 0.5/04 with adults 25-54 (even).

Follow CBS News on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and listen to podcasts at Play.it.