The debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump earned CNN roughly 47.9 million viewers on average last night according to Nielsen’s ratings analysis across all platforms. While this number does not include out-of-home, mobile, and desktop viewing, critics believe even the total number will be far lower than the first debate between the two candidates in 2020, which drew 73 million viewers.
The debate, moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, was available for viewing online with cable logins and via HBO MAX, and was simulcast across 23 news platforms, including ABC, Fox, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Bloomberg, C-SPAN, and OAN. The 47.9 million number, established by a preliminary analysis from Nielsen, includes all views from the simulcast.
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
The first debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton in September 2016 drew in 84 million viewers—and that’s just counting those who watch it on cable at home. It does not factor in how many viewed it at bars, restaurants, parties, offices, and streams. It still holds the record as the most-watched debate in US history.
Last night’s debate is poised to draw an audience slightly bigger than the first debate between candidates Bush-Gore in 2000, which saw 46.6 million, and the first Clinton-Dole debate in 1996, which saw 46.1 million.
CNN and affiliate networks HLN and CNNe pulled a total of 9.04 million TV viewers (8.75 million on CNN). Fox News garnered 8.82 million, while ABC came in third with 8.7 million. Trailing them was NBC (5.17 million), CBS (4.81 million), MSNBC (3.94 million), and the Fox broadcast network (3.48 million).
CNN says an additional 2.36 million watched digitally, including 864,000 on Max (this also includes the average viewing of the 21 minutes of post-debate commentary). Thursday was the biggest day ever for CNN’s partnership with Max.
Before Yesterday, the first presidential debate of an cycle averaged roughly 63.8 million viewers each (excluding 1980, as no figures are available). Only two past debates, in 1996 (46.1 million) and 2000 (46.6 million), failed to surpass 50 million viewers.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to VT.com for Nielsen’s final ratings.
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics and business for VT and a regular guest on The Unusual Suspects. Follow Shane’s work here.
Add comment