The investigative news program “60 Minutes” debuts on CBS

60 Minutes, produced by Don Hewitt, is the most iconic program of its time and is considered to be a magazine made for television. It was the first show of its kind to have report-centered investigations and controversial topics.

On this day, September 24th, in 1968, the investigative news program 60 Minutes is broadcasted on CBS with hosts Mike Wallace and Harry Reasoner. The first episode highlighted the nominations of Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey and police brutality.

60 Minutes became a phenomenon and broke its own records in broadcast history. It is the first show to be on Nielsen’s top 10 charts for 23 consecutive seasons, to win 78 Emmy Awards for Primetime television, and to be the most watched television program in the U.S. for five years – sharing the last of those titles with The Cosby Show.