Presidential Debate Ratings: 63.2 Million Viewers, ABC, CNN Win

The second Presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain was a bigger television event than the first — but not as big as the debate between their running mates, which set several ratings records last week. Tuesday night's debate drew 63.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings, or approximately 66 million viewers including PBS (which Nielsen does not count).

ABC won the debate among the networks, while CNN took top billing among the cablers.

The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd reports the numbers:

Tuesday night's presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama was seen by 63.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That's about 21% more than watched the candidates' first showdown two weeks ago -- an event seen by 52.4 million -- and ranks as the highest-rated top-of-the-ticket debate since 1992.

Yet last night couldn't compare to Thursday's vp showdown between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, which was seen by 10% more viewers than last night (70 million) and retains the record as the second-most-watched debate of all time.

Tuesday's bout will stand as the highest-rated presidential debate since Bill Clinton, Ross Perot and George Bush squared off for their second debate in 1992.

Network News
ABC: 13.2 million
NBC: 10.9 million
CBS: 9.4 million

Cable News
CNN: 9.2 million
Fox News: 8.8 million
MSNBC: 3.8 million

Public Television
PBS: 2.8 million

Comments

[koluidj]

After the second debate McCain passed the nerves! In recent interviews about debates it appear that he does not believe in their victory - http://tinyurl.com/45dhuw!!
Highly recommended!

[Kevbo68]

What about C-SPAN?

[lochnessmonster]

C-SPAN...The ONLY place to watch the debates and anything involved with the government. I loved watching Barack and Michelle working the crowd at the end of the debate...no"talking heads". I also enjoyed the callers when Susan brought them in while watching the people on stage talk and take photos with the Obamas. I wonder why the McCains did not do the same.

[LCRover001]

C-Span was the best place to watch the Conventions, I wish the other news networks would have do the same and ran what was going on instead of the media air heads running their mouths.

[OgreDaddy]

Agreed!

CSPAN is my favorite source for political news.

Along with HP of course :-)

[averla]

CSPAN, a good place to record or to watch.
And,
What about PBS?
Are the numbers for these two sources too small to note, or so big they might embarrass?

[maxwellinformed]

MSNBC + NBC = aprox 15 million

Winner NBC

[BLinCincinnati]

That's what I was thinking, the hypocrites on the right love to attack NBC's ties to MSNBC but then try to discount the connection when it's ratings time.

NBC/MSNBC: 14.7 million
ABC: 13.2 million
CBS: 9.4 million
CNN: 9.2 million
Fox News: 8.8 million
PBS: 2.8 million

[VikingQuest]

Watch NBC and then MSNBC . . . no relation as far as their bias.

[AdultFilmLegend]

MSNBC = pwned

PBS almost beat it. Out of business by 2009.

[LCRover001]

Not so that is cable like some of the above pointed out MSNBC is part of NBC so

NBC/MSNBC= 14.7 million

[Yatata]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE AMERICA WAKE UP

YOU ARE IN THE MIDST OF A COUP.

PLEASE WATCH:

most recent interview: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=_XgkeTanCGI

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

[figa30]

What was wrong with McCain. This guy creeps me out. He looked like C3PO wondering around the stage while Obama was talking.

[lochnessmonster]

He reminded me of Hank Hill's dad (King of the Hill cartoon)...can't bend his arms and legs.

[scooperss]

And the person who picks his attire should be fired. Square boxy suit coat and tapered trousers to make him appear taller, only served to make him look like Herman Munster or Sponge Bob Squarepants.

[bpd1069]

He was looking for his dog, puddles...

[pbeat]

I always wondered why MSNBC always is last when everything I see on there is so good. Then I realized that since my Verizon FIOS Service doesn't even have MSNBC on their roster of stations even though I have 200, there must be plenty of others who don't even have the ability to watch. Everythnig I see from that organization is from the internet. i wonder how well they would do if they were on an equal footing with FOXY

[kroses98]

In addition to that, they took Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews off their moderation, and put in the very boring David Gregory, instead. Now they have Keith and Chris, doing their own programs alone consecutively, after the debate. This makes for an extremely boring night. I used to watch MSNBC all night when Keith and Chris were on together, because they had such excellent interaction. It serves the network right that their ratings are so low, because they took these excellent men off of their moderation perch and put in that boring, Right-Wing SHILL, Gregory!!! I know I would much rather watch CNN's coverage now.

[mydarkmaterials]

I love MSNB's coverage, much better than CNN. But the problem is it's not in HD!!!!!!! I watched it on ABC this time. I'm a bit fed up with CNN. They turn it into such a circus. I like Campbell Brown and that guy with the GPS show on Sunday mornings. But that's about it. ABC or MSNBC should steel away Campbell.

[ladyv]

It's a couple of things. Not as available, has a network parent unlike other cable news networks, splits audience more heavily w/CSPAN and PBS than other broadcasts do, and then shifting staff around in response to right wing whining cut into the little buzz they had been building up.

[Mitchell4A]

These figures are not accurate. They fail to include the membership of the Federation who tuned in.

"Obama, Spock, and the New Star Trek Nation"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[kvass]

did anyone say how many watched the debate on their pbs station where there is less crap and nonsense and egoistical ass-enders getting in the way.

[ILibertine]

Right there beneath cable - 2.8 mil. The other 60.4 like crap & nonsense, to say nada of, uh....

[Aurin]

McCain - Gollum Comparision

In the second Presidential Debate, McCain reminded me alot of 'Gollum' from 'Lord of The Rings'
Just look at the way he moves, talks and has reverted to the most gutter of tactics.
Just substitute Friends with Precious
"My Friends" becomes "My Precious"
The Ring to Gollum is the same as the Presidency to McCain

[Audrey704]

Nice analogy

[goplayrabbit]

this nielsen crap is really outdated. several million watched it online, several million watched it together in groups in front of one tv set. this shouldn't be considered an accurate or historical representation of viewership.

2 cents. CA CHING

[Tooloose]

I watched it at work with a friend. We got it over Yahoo. We have no TV in the control room, just broadband. I wonder how many other people tuned in at hospital nursing stations, police precincts, security gaurds in their booths, truckers on the road, people sitting in airports and on and on. I think everyone really knows for sure, this is real history going on now. Something they can participate in too. I think people want to be part of it in any way they can~ for or against "that One."

[philopatris]

The "overhead slide projector" McCain was talking about that cost $3m was really for an educational, super high tech overhead astronomy show at the Chicago Planetarium. The study on grizzly bear DNA--look it up--was required by law of the government because they're an endangered species. He misrepresented that and had to start leaving it alone. This was a major contribution to science education in one of our greatest cities. McCain responds to the exposure of every misstatement like this by a new one. He's lost all control.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/10/3-million-overhead-projector-m.php

[Ged2012]

MCCAIN'S TOAST!

Obama is now leading over McCain by 11% in the latest Gallup poll. It is the poll owned by Conservatives.
It is his highest lead ever in the history of the campaigns since the primaries.

That's what happens when you go all the way negative, McCain! History repeats itself in a very ironic way: It worked AGAINST Kerry in 2004; now it is BACKFIRING against the GOP.

[InofTouch]

How dose ABC keep winning

[Edward Rotchford - Huffpost Blogger]

CNN does a superior job in my opinion with the coverage - they have a great team of analysts, and the scorecard for viewers of HD is very entertaining.