Democratic National Convention Ratings: 26 Million Watch Hillary, NBC, CNN Retain Leads

New York Times:

Hillary Rodham Clinton's address at the Democratic convention attracted almost 26 million viewers Tuesday night, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That number is up significantly from the 22 million who watched night one of the convention on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, BET, and TV One, according to Nielsen.

Among the broadcast networks, NBC led with 5.98 million viewers, ABC followed with 4.76 million, and CBS had 3.82 million. A comparison with 2004 is difficult because the broadcast networks did not cover the second night of the Democratic convention that year.

Among the cable news networks, CNN again led the competition, averaging 4.80 million viewers from 10 to 11 p.m. Fox News delivered 3.48 million and MSNBC netted 2.57 million. All three cable news networks are up significantly compared with 2004.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[jinjinpinti]

No wonder. Chris Matthews is an absolute embarrassment, simpering and bloviating, color-struck so bad that he can't make a comment on the Obamas without some racial element. Pat Buchanon. OMG, what a colossal DINO. I keep waiting for him to whip out a white sheet and hood and set fire to poor Rachel Maddow who bravely endures having to sit beside him. As for Olberman, well, he was disappointing, seemingly detached and moody as he had to sit and endure being constantly offended by and embarassed at the comic blatherings and irrelevant speculations of his co-host, the newly blonded yellow Tweety Matthews. Why can't they see they HAD their day in the cheering section and fan club of the neoCON crooks who have all but ruined this great nation; HAD their chance to be honorable and truthful members of the fourth estate, but chose, instead, to feather their own nests by toadying up to their corporate overlord masters. They knew it was all a pack of lies....so, I say, let 'em fall in the ratings!

[daddydamon]

The worst part of Tweety's show is when they play that insane carnival music. Whose idea was that? Awful.

[JadedAggie]

It isn't surprising that MSNBC would be way behind since they have done a poor job in coverage and are splitting their share of the market with PBS and C-SPAN who by far are doing the best job covering the convention.

[OhReallySheSaid]

Let's see, no one voted for her or wanted her for President (vs. 18+ million, most votes ever for a primary candidate); No one wants to hear what she has to say (vs. most watched convention speech, black viewership up for Hill over Michele - Nielson); So much for riding into the sunset and being irrelevant (vs. I say forget the move on meanie primary dems and run as an Indy in 2012)!

[JadedAggie]

Uh...Why would anybody have expected MO to have gotten higher viewership than HiIIary?

[fnygy]

What a splendid idea! Because 3rd party candidates have been so successful in American politics. Who can forget the greatest 3rd party president ever.... oh, that's right. It's NEVER happened in national politics. If Teddy Roosevelt couldn't do it, Hillary Clinton can't do it.

[saltysea]

so let's get universal health care!

[saltysea]

we're already under a mountain of debt---from health care costs!

[Darsan54]

The debt comes primarily from tax-cuts to those who least need them and pouring 10 billion a month down the Iraq war rathole.

[saltysea]

That's a drag. cspan & pbs are best. But why is msnbc so low? i'll watch msnbc over cnn any day.

[daddydamon]

CNN is the worst cable news channel. Even Fox is semi-entertaining (in a pathetic sort of way). CNN is just bad.

[jhill3rd]

Here's my guess.

MSNBC is not included in many basic cable packages across the country like CNN and FOX. They reach far more homes than MSNBC. This report is little misleading. MSNBC reaches more homes in the markets it is in than FOX.

[Steelrod]

I'm telling you Maddow and Buchanna hour will be a Bigtime Hit. Two perspective with Rachael tear the right apart.

[lvogt]

FOXNEWS and MSNBC don't have HD channels... at least not where I live. WTTWHD (PBS Chicago) was excellent. It kept commentary limited and avoided the crappy screen clutter that CNN has.

I still had to jump to MSNBC for my Rachel Maddow fix but they talked over Kerry's excellent remarks.
I had to go to C-SPAN to hear Tammy Duckworth who may replace Obama as Senator from Illinois. She was very good. She has a great story.

[jsinclair]

Why, oh why, did Matthews and Olbermann talk over Kerry/ That was ridiculous.

And for all the people who AREN'T watching, will we still have to listen to their moronic complaints about "He just hasn't defined himself enough yet."

[JulieKay]

MSNBC has Kerry's speech on right now. Just saluted Obama's uncle in the audience.

[GeoLee]

They think we would rather hear them talk rather than the conventioneers. Turn to CSpan tomorrow night or even PBS and enjoy hearing the speakers with little or no commentary.

[starrianna]

How gay to talk over John Kerry! That's lame.

[Kwamo]

I agree with another commenter, where is C-Span's or PBS numbers? I can't believe CNN beat any station who has a demography of dems watching, what is happening to viewerships? They are terrible if you are democratic? Why NBC did not beat out CNN is a mystery,,I can see neck in neck with station F! Then again a lot of bloggers complained that the only choice they had was CNN to get convention coverage, poor folks!! Cafferty is only on briefly!

[GeoLee]

In a lot of places in the south finding MSNBC on the cable sites is impossible. I have stayed in so many hotels through the south were it is not offered. They all have FOX and most have CNN. Nowadays I ask if it is on their cable and if they say then I politely tell them I will look for a different hotel. I think each line of hotels has some sort of package.

[jukesgrrl]

This issue is not restricted to the south. I travel a lot and have found very few hotels with MSNBC. My mother is in the hospital right now in Arizona and the only cable news she has access to is Headline News (a CNN production). Thanks heavens the networks didn't restrict coverage as they did last time, but if she misses something there are no repeats available. She watched on the local PBS affiliate and had to suffer through David Brooks. I think I'd even take Pat Buchanan over that!

[retreadite]

What a horrible picture.

[wolf58]

cspan is the best the rest are jokes

[FdeBear]

I second. Where are the numbers for C-Span?

[GeoLee]

Chedk you r local tv log. In Kansas it is channel 18. Your local newspaper probably lists it, but you could flick through the channels until you see its logo in the lower right hand corner of the screen. P"BS here had done well, too, of showing the whole thing.

[UnbiasView]

I hear the Democrats talk about universal health care a lot this election season, we really need to put aside "feelings" and "fairness" on this debate and take a look at if we can actually afford it. Medicare has already set us on the path of $35+ TRILLION in unfender liabilities and that only covers 45 million people . . . no chance of adding another 280 million people, we will collapse under a mountain of debt.

Take a few minutes and listen to David Walker who was our Comptroller General and ran the GAO.

If you have time watch these as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS2fI2p9iVs

America's future finances:
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIgrxpp97OQ
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXr_Ga_n0pY

[LiberalBuzz]

OH yes, I get all my trusted news from YOUTUBE.

Good move there UV. Please go get some new talking points.

[OhReallySheSaid]

Me too. I find youtube fair and balanced and no commercials (yet).

[lippp]

Uh, if we can afford billions each month for Irag, we can afford health care. I am in a position to talk to many people from Canada, England and the Netherlands and bar none all are satisfied with their healthcare. And they cannot understand how this country ignores so many millions of people in dire need of health insurance. Enough of tax breaks for the very rich, enough CEO's earning 400 times of that of middle class worker and getting off easy with their tax breaks, enough corporations with off shore accounts and federal bail outs. We can do it but only when the American people can say in unison we, indeed, are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore.

[GeoLee]

Add Spain, Australia, New Zealand, France and a few other places I have stayed in people's homes and listen to their conversations. None would dare travel to our country without very good trip insurance...they are all appalled at how are country views health care as a choice available only to those who can afford insurance. Unbiasview is far from it from the posts I read of yours

[goldnchyl]

you never cease to amaze me

[presto]

"Feelings" and "fairness" are the whole point.

[rwe]

Hey MSNBC , maybe you should have kept abrams and dumped Maddow and Olberman

[kraemer]

I already eschew MSNBC. One more unflattering photo of Hillary and I'll no longer check into this site either. She's an attractive woman. There must be more flattering photos of her.

Meanwhile, every photo of Huffington herself has the camera lens coated with vaseline.

Don't you realize that almost half your readers were/are Hillary supporters?

Why pile on Hillary at this point?

[SeekerOne]

What's wrong with that picture? She looks fantastic and no one is piling on Hillary.

[goldnchyl]

kraemer, wake up! bad dream! or you're on the wrong thread

[presto]

I like the picture. It's an action shot that typifies the mood in the room.

[All57States]

MSNBC in last place, ......again?