Election Night 2008 Ratings: 71.5 Million Watch Obama Victory, ABC, CNN Tops

Over 71 million people watched the Election Night coverage, making it the most viewed event of the political season and the most watched television event since the Super Bowl (which drew 97.5 million viewers) and the highest-rated election night since 1980. Over 133 million votes were cast in the election.

ABC took the top spot overall, averaging 13.1 million viewers to NBC's 12.0 million and CBS' 7.8 million.

CNN won among the cablers, taking second overall with an average 12.3 million viewers for its most watched primetime event ever. Fox News averaged 9.0 million and MSNBC averaged 5.9 million viewers.

In the advertiser-friendly Adults 25-54 demographic, ABC averaged 6.1 million viewers to NBC's 5.8 million and CBS' 3.5 million. CNN averaged 5.8 million viewers in the demo, while Fox News averaged 3.9 million (its highest demo audience ever) and MSNBC averaged 2.7 million viewers.

The numbers, courtesy THRFeed's James Hibberd, below:

Broadcast Networks
ABC: 13.1 million total viewers, 6.1 million A25-54
NBC: 12.0 million total viewers, 5.8 million A25-54
CBS: 7.8 million total viewers, 3.5 million A25-54

Cable Networks
CNN: 12.3 million total viewers, 5.8 million A25-54
FNC: 9.0 million total viewers, 3.9 million A25-54
MSNBC: 5.9 million total viewers, 2.7 million A25-54

Other
Fox: 5.1 million total viewers
Univision: 4.1 million total viewers
Telemundo:0.8 million total viewers

Comments

[dadw5boys]

76 billion were watching Satilittie TV . Forgien Networks beat all the U.S. Networks/

[boogiewoman]

I watched Fix News for about 2 minutes and it was funny. I remember her saying that only about 30 thousand people at the park in Shy town. BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[KansasWrangler]

I'm not sure how accurate these numbers can be with all the election watch parties. While one TV might have been tuned in, there could have been hundreds watching it. In Chicago alone there were were 200,000 people watching one screen.

I watched CNN because I enjoy all their toys. I did turn to FOX once, but it took a few minutes for me to determine that they were actually covering the election.

[milo h minderbinder]

Good to see it got a good crowd, but I'm surprised it was only barely higher than the VP debate numbers.

[Hopeington]

After spending so much time with Keith and the gang at MSNBC, I only felt it only right to hang with them, they've really been there for me during this election time and I was glad it was Keith giving us the news we had been hoping for.

[maggieblue]

I could only watch the online coverage, and ABC's Sam Donaldson sounded like a cranky, bitter old man, too piss*d to realize what an incredible moment in history he was witnessing.

[D14]

I get kick out of Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, love Chuck Todd and Mika Brzezinski (although I gotta say that the new Sarah-Do doesn't work for me either), and think Rachel Maddow's doing a great job with her new show. MSNBC has been my go-to channel for political news since forever, but I watched the election on NBC and CNN, not MSNBC. I also cannot STAND watching David Gregory. It isn't his bias if he has one, it's ... him. He comes across as arrogant and self promoting, and he's just bloody BORING. Please send him back to the White House press room and get him off our regular viewing screen.

[BluePrideSMW]

I respect them so much more since trust fund baby Tucker lost his gig...

Supremes, Sam Cooke & Patti Labelle medly of A Change IS Gonna Come:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTba2ERcsrw

[Kiabell04]

That's amazing coverage and ratings. I do find it disturbing that MSNBC is considered premium cable news, yet Fox News is allowed to stay on basic cable.

[change1]

its a very exciting time ...he and many media people celebs etc..are rallying together demanding pay cuts, and or retiring to let the new face of change have a chance to be in the media , be in amovie etc...they are also talks to start living by example of change. they are donating the majority of their wealth and living green and modest. gibson,williams, walters and many others who voted for change are talking the talk and walking the walk...please send your suport to these people...thank you GO REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH!!!!!CHANGE IS HERE!!!!!!

[irtrad17]

This statistic is pretty silly really. Almost every single person in this country and most of the rest of the world watched (or listened to, logged on to) the returns. I doubt very few watched them alone. How are these numbers determined?

[indespat]

Used to watch nothing but MSNBC. No longer. Between David Gregory's conceit and Chuck Todd's "ready, fire, aim" statistics (conservative & understated), coupled with B tier guests and analysts (Scarborough), time to move on.

We want election analysis, vote trends, election to election comparisons, and fact based projections. Then, compliment this with knowledge based discussion.

Switched to CNN and while you cannot "please all of the people all of the time", relative to hosts, commentators, and analysts, I will take the CNN statistics and panels over MSNBC anytime.

[engineer68]

Me, too! A person can only take so much of Olbermann. He was good once, but over time he has lost his appeal.

[cariintexas]

I saw Gregory take off on Stephanie cutter on one of shows. The next night he had Nicole Wallace on and was dripping sugar. I stopped watching when he started loading his show with republcans.

[mercuryguy]

I just can't get comfortable with David Gregory, something about him, I just don't like him.
I hope NBC won't put Gregory in Meet the Press.

[BLinCincinnati]

Sadly I think they are going to do that. Look at his show... he converted it from the Panel all night to being constant 1 on 1 interviews with very little Panel.

Too bad he's so horribly biased. He lets the Republicans just say whatever they want but when its a Dem he constantly interrupts and uses loaded questions.

[waverly]

Please say it's not so. It will be one more show I will avoid if Gregory is the host. I don't like him at all. I'd rather see Chuck Todd in that position. I have not seen any bias from him. I wonder if MSNBC has considered him.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

What? McCain voters didn't even bother watching!? Sad!