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

[SunshineDaydream]

GNATI HAS POSTED A LINK TO A VIRUS.

DO NOT CLICK THE LINK, AND PLEASE FLAG AS ABUSIVE.

[BarackstarObama]

I watch every event on MSNBC... come on Obama supporters, support MSNBC.

Obama/Biden 08

[SunshineDaydream]

i watch it unfiltered with no screen gobbledygook. c-span / pbs is the way.

now after the debate i go straight to msnbc for rachel and keith. but i am out of there when matthews comes on.

[confusedintexas]

I watch C-Span for the actual Debates and then immediately tune into hear the responses of K.O., Rachel, & Eugene. Chris is too wishy washy and I am not a fan of any of the others.

[SunshineDaydream]

how many people here watched it on c-span like me?

[dadw5boys]

c-span killed them all lol

[SunshineDaydream]

ita

[Laprawler501]

BBC is my top choice, C-Span 2nd.

[SunshineDaydream]

we don't get bbc either

[Britishdemocrat]

Wow, that is more than the entire population of my country. Maybe the days of False News is over.

[Britishdemocrat]

The fact that CNN won the ratings war over FNC is further proof that more people in America are not taking False News as gospel anymore. They are in fact checking out CNN and the 'Big Three' and also Blog sites like this to get their news. So much for the Fox News slogan We Report You Decide, all of the footage I've seen of Fox News tells me they don't report the truth, they cover Republicans more than Democrats, they bash Democrats on everything, and they are overall the 24/7 GOP advertising network.

[RedDogBear]

"The fact that CNN won the ratings war over FNC is further proof that more people in America are not taking False News as gospel anymore." Well that is certainly good news but I wouldn't be celebrating much yet. I agree that CNN is better than FOX but sort of the way Bob Dole was better than Bush or McCain. CNN is still mostly infotainment BS not real journalism. Real journalists ask hard questions, follow up questions, and don't pee their pants if a candidate threatens to ban them from their press pool. CNN was cheerleading for the Iraq war as was the NY Times. We still have a long way to go to get a real 4th estate back.

[AzRealProgressive]

What? CNN and FOX were neck and neck. CNN has been around for a lot longer than FOX. A good portion of posters here watch FOX. Probably about 80% from what I have seen. The real loser was MSNBC

[SunshineDaydream]

here as in arizona, or here as in h u f f p o?

also, msnbc is not basic cable in many markets. here in jax you have to have a digital cable box in order to watch msnbc.

[StillIRise]

"A good portion of posters here watch FOX."

The Fox Fan posters here stand out like a sore thumb. Their comments are generally unoriginal and no more than an echo of Fox's talking points, which reflect their deep and abiding faith in anything and everything Sean Hannity tells them. They are the ones who have judged Reverend Wright's 40 year ministry on 40 second soundbites, the ones whose "knowledge" of Bill Ayers and Tony Rezko and their relationship to Obama is limited only to what Sean, Rush and Fox want them to know, and who always quote Fox's polls as the defining poll, no matter what all the other polls show. And when they run out of talking points or can no longer use them to defend their arguments, they reduce their arguments to words like, "dumb" and "radical" to express their opposition to Obama. 80% of the posters here not only do not watch Fox News, but watch anything BUT Fox News, because 80% of the posters here are generally independent, critical thinkers who do not want to be corrupted by the lies and smears, unfair and unbalanced reporting of a propagandist news venue. But we can usually spot the spoon-fed Fox viewer quite easily.

[Aleka4]

Huffpo?

What planet are you from?

Huffpo regular posters watch MSNBC or CSPAN for the most part. Only the republican worker drones watch Fox n00bs, and then they come here and spit out hannity's talking points verbatim for money.

[kissy kai]

I AGREE. SO WHY CANT WE HAVE A STATION 24 HOURS FOR THE LEFT.

[Blah Blah Blah]

The Second Presidential Debate: Live Analysis
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=93&ArticleName=The+Second+Debate%3a+Live+Analysis

Oct 8 Polling Update.
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=94&ArticleName=Poll+Update

Checkout my piece on Youth Voter Registration. For every 100 registered voters aged 18-24, the democrats accrue a 9 vote advantage.
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=85&ArticleName=Youth+Vote%3a+The+Power+of+Registration

Obama 349, McCain 189
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

[KarateKid]

The VP debate was more of a curiosity factor, while the Presidential debate was so predictable. McCain doesn't belong on the same stage as Obama. For those of us old enough, it's like Kennedy v. Nixon. The contrast is THAT stark.

I'm looking forward to having an intelligent, calm, analytical, coherent, elegant President instead of newkular, EyeRan, EyeRaq. Communism failed because the proletariat are incapable of leading the country. Joe Six Pack belongs in a bar or on a couch, not in the White House or across the street.

[jnratliff]

I watched on C-Span the only place on the TV you get things unfiltered!

[bling]

PBS?

[SunshineDaydream]

both/either. yup yup

[SteveS]

MSNBC was so low in the ratings. They need to dump Keith, he's too hateful, spiteful and condescending. Rachel Maddow is far superior.

[InspiredByTruth]

Strange. He's got alot of fans and his show has high ratings. Guess you should stick to Faux and Fiends.

[RedDogBear]

I love Rachel but that is total crap about Olberman. What we can't have two liberal commentators? The right still has about a hundred on FOX, PBS, etc. There is nothing hateful about Olberman. Please list a specific comment that was "hateful". If you aren't pissed off you haven't been paying attention the last seven years. Olberman is one of the few who has been paying attention.

[Aleka4]

haven't you heard?

Anyone who thinks PaIin is unqualified is :hateful: now.

[kissy kai]

YOU ARE SO RIGHT.

[victoriajubilee]

yes but they have increased their viewership by over 40% over a year ago. They should have better programming late at night and on weekends instead of those Prison shows. I rather watch them than fox though.

[StillIRise]

Keith Olbermann is a hero to many, especially during this election season. He speaks truth to power, much like Rachel, but in a style that is all his own. And he is often the voice for many of us who do not have a platform to be heard. My husband seldom if ever watches cable news, but he will not miss Keith Olbermann. Rachel is extraordinary, but as far as I'm concerned, she and Keith are in the same league.

[enviroservices]

All of you should consider that the reason this is the most viewed debate is because the folks are very concerned about their future.

Security (both financial and others), health care for their families, education and funding for same for their kids, etc. are some of the few.

I find that Obama team very inspirational because he gives us hope that our aforementioned concerns will be at least looked at by Pres Obama. Wth the "other guy"... the only thing we have to look forward to is more of the same play book from uncle Bush.

It is noteworthy that even though some people are inclined to vote along racist, sexist etc. lines; when they have overriding issues such as gas and $$ in pocket, the biases take a back seat and take prominance when deciding whom to vote for.

The way I see it, the music has stopped or is in the process of stopping, every one is looking for a chair to sit on. Me for one, Obama is the seat I hope to sit on [LOL].

[Aleka4]

I did a live stream from CNN.

I had to check out the infamous instant response graph for myself, lol.

[dajay]

What a boring town hall debaTe. I was tired to begin with and then it just about put me to sleep.

What a lack of passion and charisma from both of these bozos.

Everytime I see these two together, I am sick to my stomach knowing that one of them will ACTUALLY be president.

[StillIRise]

Still grieving, huh?

[TazExprez]

I watched the debates on CNN HD. If it wasn't for the HD, I would have watched it on MSNBC.

[wyntka]

i watched for free on PBS HD over my TV antenna. cable news blows

[InofTouch]

still mean jack nothing

[SD leaker]

Why don't you tell the truth. It was boring. The most controlled town hall ever. Questions made up and selected. Public scared to death to make the least sound.

[mr jellyneck]

I watch C-Span. It has a certain quite dignity that's completely lacking from this presidential race.