RNC TV Ratings

[cinyc]

TV ratings for the 10-11PM hour of the RNC have been middling so far, on par with or behind 2012 and 2008.

Here is the ratings by day so far:
Monday: 23.0 Million
Tuesday: 19.8 Million
Wednesday: 23.4 Million
Thursday: 32.2 Million (about 35 million with PBS)

Romney drew 30.3 Million Viewers for his 2012 speech.  McCain drew nearly 42 million in 2008 (38.9 Million in the official Nielsen tally, which excluded PBS).  I think that was the RNC record.  It might also be the all-time convention record, but Obama 2008 was close.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

45-50 million.  Gonna be yuge.

[Higgs]

50 million at least.

[DINGO Joe]

More than Romney less than McCain.  People just have other ways of watching if they so choose. 

[cinyc]

One thing to note is that the 2008 and 2012 RNCs were in late August/early September, when there might be fewer viewers vacationing in states where children have gone back to school.  Plus, TV viewing overall is down significantly since 2012.  That didn't stop some of the Republican debates from being among the highest-rated ever, though.

[cinyc]

According to Zap2It, yesterday, the RNC pulled 22.8 million viewers during the 10-11 PM (cable)/10-11:17 PM (broadcast) hour.  That's up from the 20.1 million who viewed night 3 (which was really night 2 due to the hurricane) in 2012.

Edited to add: Nielsen's official press release says Wednesday's RNC drew 23.4 million.  They include CNBC and Fox Business in their tally, but not PBS.

[Seriously?]

According to Zap2It, yesterday, the RNC pulled 22.8 million viewers during the 10-11 PM (cable)/10-11:17 PM (broadcast) hour.  That's up from the 20.1 million who viewed night 3 (which was really night 2 due to the hurricane) in 2012.

The overnights are missing PBS and CSPAN. Not sure how much they add to the conversation for comparison to previous years, but for those of us not wanting to watch as much spin, CSPAN or an online-live link has been the way to go.

Some cable companies are carrying an in-house RNC feed as well.

[cinyc]

According to Zap2It, yesterday, the RNC pulled 22.8 million viewers during the 10-11 PM (cable)/10-11:17 PM (broadcast) hour.  That's up from the 20.1 million who viewed night 3 (which was really night 2 due to the hurricane) in 2012.

The overnights are missing PBS and CSPAN. Not sure how much they add to the conversation for comparison to previous years, but for those of us not wanting to watch as much spin, CSPAN or an online-live link has been the way to go.

Some cable companies are carrying an in-house RNC feed as well.

The nearly 42 million viewer number for McCain 08 includes PBS.  Without PBS, it drew 38.9 million, according to Nielsen.  So PBS and others added 2-3 million additional viewers to the total.  (I've seen 41 million as the McCain 08 total viewership in some articles).

The Nielsen link also has 2012 numbers that include PBS.

[Senator-elect Spark]

65 million. He should break that record too.

[Tender Branson]

Around 38 million, because many watch it online and not on TV.

[SillyAmerican]

Around 38 million, because many watch it online and not on TV.

Yes.

[cinyc]

The fast affiliate preliminary ratings peg the TV audience on the three broadcast networks at 10.65 million.  That's down from 12.02 million in 2012.  But the preliminary ratings will likely be revised, as they are for all live events, to measure West Coast viewership in the same timeslot.

[cinyc]

The Hollywood Reporter estimates viewership will be around 35 million, based on the overnights.  1.4 million watched on Spanish-language broadcast network Univision, according to the preliminary Fast Affiliate data cited in the article.

Nielsen will probably put out their numbers with the final data around 4PM, give or take an hour.

[psychprofessor]

Alex WeprinVerified account
‏@alexweprin
An average of 29.9 million people watched Donald trump accept GOP nomination during 10 PM hour last night on broadcast, CNN, FNC, MSNBC

Reports coming in at 29.9 million, without C-Span and Univision. Right now lower than Mitt's 2012 speech.

[Dr. Arch]

I guess I overestimated by voting 35-40m, but I'm glad I did. That speech instilled in me a level of anxiety that took away a great deal of sleep. I'm happy that people didn't tune into that apocalyptic discourse.

[cinyc]

Alex WeprinVerified account
‏@alexweprin
An average of 29.9 million people watched Donald trump accept GOP nomination during 10 PM hour last night on broadcast, CNN, FNC, SNBC

Reports coming in at 29.9 million, without C-Span and Univision. Right now lower than Mitt's 2012 speech.

The Hollywood Reporter is now reporting 31.5 million, including Univision.  That's higher than Romney.  No official Nielsen press release yet.

[DINGO Joe]

I wish there was a good way to track how many people started out watching the speech, but gave up because it was so freaking long.

[psychprofessor]

Alex WeprinVerified account
‏@alexweprin
An average of 29.9 million people watched Donald trump accept GOP nomination during 10 PM hour last night on broadcast, CNN, FNC, SNBC

Reports coming in at 29.9 million, without C-Span and Univision. Right now lower than Mitt's 2012 speech.

The Hollywood Reporter is now reporting 31.5 million, including Univision.  That's higher than Romney.  No official Nielsen press release yet.

Sad that he could only barely top Romney's viewership. Low energy.

[cinyc]

32.2 Million, according to the official Nielsen press release.

[Maxwell]

Far below McCain? Sad!

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

I wonder how much of the number has to do with more people watching the speech online compared to 2008 or even 2012


That being said, I'm a bit surprised. Considering Trump and the amount of attention this election has gotten, it's pretty underwhelming

[Wiz in Wis]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Trumps largest Demos - Older working class whites, are the most likely to watch this on TV, rather than online/via smart devices. I actually chalk this up to a higher name/recognition and press saturation. I mean, why bother to see what Trump stands for when you already know?

May indicate that Clinton will have lower viewership as well.

[Seriously?]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Trumps largest Demos - Older working class whites, are the most likely to watch this on TV, rather than online/via smart devices. I actually chalk this up to a higher name/recognition and press saturation. I mean, why bother to see what Trump stands for when you already know?

May indicate that Clinton will have lower viewership as well.

19,415,000 - 55+
8,515,000 35-54
2,785,000 18-34

Doesn't include online. Also is missing PBS and CSPAN. Includes Univision.

[cinyc]

Far below McCain? Sad!

McCain's speech was after Labor Day, when more people are home watching TV.  It had one of the best possible lead-ins on one of the broadcast networks - an NFL game.  And it also followed Sarah Palin's very highly viewed speech on the prior day.

Trump's acceptance speech was the second-most viewed RNC acceptance speech ever, I think.

[cinyc]

PBS put out a press release claiming it had 2.75 million viewers during yesterday's 10-11PM hour.  That would put the total TV viewership around 35 million - perhaps just under 35 million if you factor in some people turning off their TVs in the 11:00PM hour when the speech overran.