If you’re scrambling to find your remote and wondering what channel is 60 minutes on tonight, the short answer is CBS. It has been the home of the most famous ticking stopwatch in television history since 1968. You probably already knew that deep down, but Sundays in January are notoriously messy for TV schedules. Between the NFL playoffs and breaking news, the "regular" 7:00 PM start time is often more of a polite suggestion than a hard rule.
Tonight, Sunday, January 18, 2026, is a bit of a tricky one. We are right in the thick of the NFL Divisional Playoffs. While CBS aired the Bills-Broncos game yesterday, today’s late-afternoon slot is occupied by the Rams and Bears over on NBC. This actually works in your favor—since CBS isn't carrying the late-window game today, 60 Minutes is scheduled to air at its traditional time of 7:00 PM ET/PT.
Where to Find 60 Minutes Tonight
You’ve got options. If you’re a traditionalist, just flip to your local CBS affiliate. If you’ve cut the cord, you aren't out of luck.
- Broadcast Television: Your local CBS station.
- Streaming: Paramount+ is the primary home for live streaming, provided you have the "Paramount+ with SHOWTIME" plan which includes your local live feed.
- Live TV Streamers: Platforms like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV all carry CBS.
- On-Demand: If you miss the broadcast, the CBS News app and Paramount+ usually have the segments uploaded shortly after they air.
Honestly, the easiest way to watch if you're away from a big screen is the Paramount+ app. Just keep in mind that the "Essentials" plan doesn't usually include the live local channel, so check your subscription level before the ticking starts.
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Why the Schedule Shifts So Much
Football. That’s the reason.
When CBS has a double-header or a late-afternoon NFL playoff game that runs long—which they almost always do—the entire Sunday night lineup gets pushed. We've all seen it. You tune in for 60 Minutes and see the final three minutes of a nail-biter taking thirty minutes of real time.
Because today’s CBS schedule is relatively clear of late-afternoon sports interference, you shouldn't see that annoying "start slide." However, if there’s a major breaking news event, CBS News often preempts the first few minutes for a special report. It’s the nature of the beast with a newsmagazine that prides itself on being "live-to-tape" and current.
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What’s on the Program Tonight?
The producers usually keep the exact lineup close to the chest until the weekend, but tonight’s episode (January 18) is expected to tackle some heavy hitters. Following a year that has already seen massive shifts in global politics and AI development, the 58th season continues to lean into investigative depth.
Recent reports have focused on everything from the capture of high-profile political figures to the rapid evolution of humanoid robots. You can expect a mix of three distinct segments: one hard-hitting investigative piece, one personality profile, and often a "lighter" story about the arts or science to round things out.
The Impact of 60 Minutes in 2026
In an era of 15-second TikTok clips, there is something oddly comforting about a show that spends 13 minutes on a single topic. It’s slow-burn journalism. People still care about what channel is 60 minutes on tonight because the show remains a cultural gatekeeper. If you get interviewed by Scott Pelley or Lesley Stahl, you’ve "arrived"—or you’re in serious trouble.
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How to Stay Updated on Time Changes
If you’re worried about missing the start, the best thing to do is follow the official 60 Minutes social media accounts. They are surprisingly good at tweeting out the exact start time for the Eastern and Central time zones if football is running over.
- Check the CBS Sports wrap-up if a game is on.
- Look for the "60 Minutes" account on X (formerly Twitter).
- Check your local listings if you live in the Mountain or Pacific time zones, as they often have more stable air times.
Basically, if the game ends at 7:12 PM, the show starts at 7:12 PM. The network doesn't just cut out the first 12 minutes; they shift the whole night. This means your DVR might cut off the end of the final segment unless you’ve told it to record an extra 30 or 60 minutes "just in case."
Actionable Tips for Sunday Viewing
To make sure you don't miss a second of the broadcast tonight, here is exactly what you should do. First, verify your CBS signal—whether that's through an antenna or a streaming login—by 6:45 PM. If you're using a DVR, manually extend the recording end-time by at least half an hour. Sports might not be on CBS today, but news cycles in 2026 move fast, and a special report can pop up at any time. Finally, if you're watching via Paramount+, make sure your app is updated to avoid that "loading" circle of death right when the stopwatch starts ticking.
Once the episode concludes, you can head over to "60 Minutes Overtime" online. It’s a digital-only feature where the producers talk about how they got the story. It's often just as interesting as the main broadcast and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the logistics of international reporting.