"60 MINUTES" DRAWS LARGEST AUDIENCE IN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS

News Magazine Also Scores Highest Ratings in Adults 25-54 Since January 2000 and Adults 18-49 Since December 2003

60 MINUTES, America's Number One news magazine, drew its largest audience in more than five years last Sunday (11), delivering 19.72 million viewers -- the most since March 12, 2000. 60 MINUTES also scored its highest ratings in adults 25-54 (7.0/16) since Jan. 16, 2000 and adults 18-49 (5.6/15) since Dec. 28, 2003.

The audience of 19.72 million viewers landed the news magazine in the Number Five spot among viewers and number three in households (12.4/19) for the week ending Dec.11, 2005. It was broadcast's highest weekly ranking of this season in both measures.

60 MINUTES also won the 7:30-8:30 P.M. timeslot in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

Due to a run-over in live football coverage, Sunday's broadcast in most parts of the country featured two stories, Ed Bradley's report on illegal immigration and a Bob Simon segment on shark tourism. The West Coast broadcast was unaffected by the run-over and included a third story, Steve Kroft's report on notorious cat burglars.