Number two was the biggest draw, but the third and final debate between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama drew heavy viewership. The Nielsen Company estimates that 56.5 million people watched the debate carried live on 10 broadcast and cable networks, plus the tape delayed broadcast on Telemundo.
Fox did not carry the third debate because it was broadcasting a Major League Baseball playoff game, as was the case for years ago as well.
So, the final debate between Presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Sen. John McCain of Arizona was telecast on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 from approximately 9:00 to 10:30 pm (ET) and was carried live on ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC-America, CNBC, CNN, FOX News Channel, MSNBC and MUN2, plus the tape delay on Telemundo. The sum of debate audience on these 11 networks was 56,523,000, according to Nielsen.
2008 Presidential Debates
Sum of Networks Live + Same Day
|
|
September 26, 2008 |
October 7, 2008 |
October 15, 2008 |
|||
|
|
Rating |
Number |
Rating |
Number |
Rating |
Number |
|
All Households |
31.6 |
36,224,000 |
38.8 |
44,372,000 |
35.0 |
40,037,000 |
|
Persons 2+ |
18.1 |
52,418,000 |
21.9 |
63,233,000 |
19.6 |
56,523,000 |
|
African American P2+ * |
19.5 |
7,174,000 |
21.3 |
7,842,000 |
19.8 |
7,277,000 |
|
Hispanic P2+ * |
8.2 |
3,456,000 |
11.0 |
4,774,000 |
12.6 |
5,522,000 |
|
White P2+ * |
19.4 |
41,079,000 |
23.5 |
49,842,000 |
20.5 |
43,739,000 |
|
2004 –Debate |
September 30, 2004 |
October 8, 2004 |
October 13, 2004* |
|||
|
Households |
39.4 |
43,000,000 |
29.6 |
32,500,000 |
32.6 |
36,300,000 |
|
Persons 2+ |
22.5 |
62,500,000 |
16.8 |
46,700,000 |
18.5 |
51,200,000 |
Source: The Nielsen Company
* Persons ratings for African American, Hispanic are % of African American/ Hispanic persons age 2+ in TV homes watching the debate coverage.
2008 Networks Included:
Debate 1- ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telefutura, Telemundo, BBC-America, CNBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC
Debate 2 – ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, BBC-America, CNBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC
Debate 3 – ABC, CBS, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, BBC-America, CNBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, MUN2 – The MLB Playoffs aired on FOX broadcast opposite the debate
2004 Networks Included:
Debate 1 – ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC
Debate 2 – ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC
Debate 3 – ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC. The MLB Playoffs aired on FOX broadcast opposite the debate
