CNN said Friday that 47.9 million people watched the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump across broadcast and cable TV as well as streaming.
While still a sizable TV audience, it represents an approximately 34% drop in viewership from the first 2020 Biden-Trump debate, which drew 73 million viewers.
Last night’s debate was simulcast across all major news networks including NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox as well as PBS, C-SPAN and MSNBC.
Among broadcast and cable networks, CNN pulled in 9 million viewers, just ahead of Fox News at 8.8 million and ABC News at 8.7 million. CNN said its performance more than doubled MSNBC at 4 million.
It said the debate is now the highest-rated program in the network’s history — as well as its most live-streamed.
Among adults 25-54 across all platforms, 12.6 million tuned in, CNN said, while 3.92 million 18-34 year olds watched. It was the most-watched non-sports program of the year so far, CNN said.
Thursday’s debate has sparked a wave of discussion about whether Biden could step aside as the Democratic candidate for president, though replacing him would be challenging.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.