Kevin Costner’s ‘Yellowstone’ sets viewership milestones

By DAVID BAUDER
AP Media Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Costner can comfortably boast of being television’s biggest star right now. His ‘Yellowstone’ returned for a fifth season on Sunday, and even though it was on a cable network, it was the most-watched episode of scripted television on TV this fall. The Paramount network Western reached 12.1 million viewers, when you count in simultaneous showings on other Viacom-owned cable networks. One expert called it the most appointment-friendly shows on television right now, in part because it appeals particularly to an older audience comfortable with watching television in a traditional way. It also proves the enduring popularity of the Western.