While it began with fireworks, last night’s GOP debate on CNN did not go out with a bang, drawing 400,000+ fewer viewers than Monday’s debate on Fox News. According to Nielsen data, the debate drew 5.02 million Total Viewers. But with 1.72 million A25-54 viewers, the debate did top the two most recent debates on Fox News and NBC/MSNBC in the younger demo. (Updated to reflect final numbers)
This was also CNN’s most-watched debate in younger viewers and second most-watched in Total Viewers, this primary cycle.
The next debates are right around the corner: Monday night at the University of South Florida in Tampa, moderated by Brian Williams on NBC and Thursday night at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville moderated by Wolf Blitzer on CNN.
| Debate | Network | Total Viewers | A25-54 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 19 | CNN | 5,022,000 | 1,717,000 |
| Jan. 16 | Fox News | 5,475,000 | 1,573,000 |
| Jan. 8 | NBC/MSNBC | 4,715,000 | 1,649,000 |
| Jan. 7 | ABC | 6,250,000 | 1,730,000 |
| Dec. 15 | Fox News | 6,713,000 | 1,865,000 |
| Dec. 10 | ABC | 7,630,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Nov. 22 | CNN | 3,599,000 | 1,041,000 |
| Nov. 12 | CBS | 5,480,000 | 1,520,000 |
| Nov. 9 | CNBC | 3,332,000 | 993,000 |
| Oct. 18 | CNN | 5,468,000 | 1,651,000 |
| Oct. 11 | Bloomberg | NA | NA |
| Sept. 22 | Fox News | 6,107,000 | 1,701,000 |
| Sept. 12 | CNN | 3,600,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Sept. 7 | MSNBC | 5,411,000 | 1,728,000 |
| Aug. 11 | Fox News | 5,053,000 | 1,430,000 |
| June 13 | CNN | 3,162,000 | 918,000 |
| May 5 | Fox News | 3,258,000 | 854,000 |