Vice Presidential Debate Ratings: 69.9 Million Total, ABC, Fox News Win, MSNBC Tanks

Update: The final numbers are in: 69.9 million viewers watched the Vice Presidential debate, making it the most watched debate since 1992 and the most watched VP debate ever. From The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd:

Thursday's highly anticipated face-off between Alaska governor Sarah Palin and Delaware senator Joe Biden was the most-watched debate in 16 years

[Thursday] night's event was seen by 69.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That's the most-viewed debate -- presidential or vp -- since the second round of Bill Clinton, Ross Perot and George Bush debating in 1992 (which also received 69.9 million).

Thursday's event was 33% higher than Friday's debate between John McCain and Barack Obama. It's 61% higher than the 2004 debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards, and ranks 8% higher than the former most-watched vp debate record holder -- the 1984 match between George Bush and Geraldine Ferrarro.

Cable Ratings: Fox News had its highest rated telecast ever Thursday night, drawing 11.1 million viewers for the Vice Presidential debate (from 9:01 pm-10:33 pm Eastern time).

CNN came in second with 10.7 million viewers, while MSNBC came in a distant third with 4.4 million viewers.

The Vice presidential debate replaced George Bush's Presidential Address from March 19, 2003, which drew 9.7 million viewers, as the network's highest rated telecast in its 12-year history.

Fox News also saw its highest prime-time average ever: it averaged 9.2 million viewers from 8-11pm.

CNN won the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic, averaging 4.5 million to Fox's 3.8 million and MSNBC's 1.9 million viewers.

Network Ratings: On the networks, ABC took the top spot, averaging 13.1 million viewers for the VP debate. NBC came in second with 12.82 million, while CBS came in third with 11.1 million viewers.

ABC also won the post-debate analysis (10:37 pm-11:00 pm Eastern), drawing 9.8 million viewers to NBC's 9.6 million and CBS' 8.0 million.

Final Numbers (total viewers):
ABC: 13,130,000
NBC: 12,820,000
CBS: 11,100,000
Fox News: 11,098,000
CNN: 10,685,000
MSNBC: 4,412,000

Comments

[mshazen]

Ok correct me if I am wrong but msnbc did not play the debate in my area, so I watched it on NBC. I find the title misleading.

[soomal]

69!

69!

69!

69!!

am i the only one who finds this humorous?

[shelly4]

It's sad that so many people tuned into this debate with the sole purpose of trying to learn more about Palin. Sad because some are willing to turn our country over to a complete stranger to the American people. I don't know what to make of this. I will just pray that most Americans are smart and will not fall for this gimmick. We cannot and should not give our country over to someone we do not know. How can the possibility of this even be on the table for vote. Unbelievable.

[Middleclassvotingbloc]

I watched C-Span, we were not represented in the number--so that would mean that many more watched.

[Rick in Arizona]

11 millon people watching FIX News in mighty scary!

[jorge4u]

What do you expect when people in convalescent homes fall asleep on the couch with the tv on?

[virto]

Perhaps MSNBC's ratings will rise when it finds its way out of its identity crisis. After finding unprecedented success with Olbermann and Maddow, they pull Olbermann off of his anchor duties -- and make him stay home from the GOP convention -- after Tom Brokaw negotiated as much with the McCain campaign. (See the recent NYT story regarding Brokay as emissary/next-debate-moderator.)

Frankly, I hope MSNBC's ratings continue to tank. Maybe then they'll figure out that they don't need to satisfy Bill O'Reilly's audience at the same time they expect to draw people who prefer Olbermann and Maddow.

[dajay]

I think you got it backwards. MSNBC is tanking because they ruined their reputation by being so in the tank for Obama. That are a laughing stock now just like Fox News.

[rubberneck]

Yes, but they have the top 8 news shows.

[vamonticello]

David Gregory is the problem with MSNBC. I am not going to watch a racist like Gregory.....He was/is one of the most vocal Don Imus supporters.

[karinct5]

I'm proud I was one of the 4.4 million who watched the debate on MSNBC!

[mshazen]

I wrote up thread the debate was not available in our area on msnbc, so I had to watch it on NBC, so don't let the numbers kid anyone. MSNBC is not going anywhere.

[Scytherius]

lol Yeah, cause half of those people wanted to see if she was REALLY dumber than a bag of hammers. Well . . . may not have been QUITE as big a bag as the Couric interviews but was a bag of hammers nontheless.

[WhatYouDidNotKnow]

Totally disagree! The ratings are based only on meters connected TV's that keep track of a single TV. More eyeballs watched the 1st presidential debates. Same thing with Obama's DNC acceptance speech.

Team Obama is very good at organizing. Through Text messages and emails, they had thousands of watch parties for both Obama's speech and the 1st presidential debate. There were significantly fewer watch parties for the RNC and they did not organize watch parties for the VP debates.

http://www.danceXfitness.com

[BarackstarObama]

Come on democrats and Obama fans, let's support MSNBC more!

Obama/Biden 08

[virto]

Not a chance. I deliberately switched to CNN because MSNBC replaced Olbermann with Karl Rove's dancing partner, David Gregory.

Take a look at the New York Times, which reported that NBC actually sent Tom Brokaw to the McCain campaign for the purpose of negotiating a "solution" to the campaign's problem with Olbermann. The result? Olbermann's no longer moderating.

Funny, I didn't see any personnel changes at Fox. Until MSNBC figures out that it can't please the necons at the same time they're playing to progressives, I'm going to watch the good and tune out while their trying to mollify the right wingers.

[aricogfj]

The Presidential debate was on a Friday night, while this was highly viewed, its not an apple and apple comparsion.

[libratine]

Our own "Six-pack Joe" moved more uncommitted voters to Obama than Palin did for McCain. Score 2 out of 2. Way to go Joe!!! These guys are a class act.

Obama/Biden are keeping their promise! Let's help keep them up the pressure.

Obama supporters are contributing $16 as gift and a nod to the Obama's 16th wedding anniversary today! Pass it on! https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/main

[mmcdonald]

MSNBC should get an opinion-meter like CNN, then its viewership would improve for these things. I just want to hang with Rachel whenever I can, but I watched the "Ohio undecided" with fascination.

[VOTER]

I hate the opinion meter.

It reminds me of a game show.

[mshazen]

I don't hate it but I agree I don't watch CNN because of the meter I find it annoying.

[optech007]

Noun, verb, Scranton.