Initially shown in prime time, the program drew only a minimal, public-affairs oriented audience running against two high-profile Sunday night variety series, The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS and The Steve Allen Show on NBC; however, its appearance helped ABC to meet the public-interest requirements imposed on United States broadcasters by the Federal Communications Commission.
Initially shown during prime time, the program garnered a limited, focus-group-oriented viewership that faced competition from two prominent Sunday night variety series, The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS and The Steve Allen Show on NBC; nonetheless, its appearance assisted ABC in meeting the public-interest standards set by the Federal Communications Commission for US broadcasters.