CNN hasn’t had a night this big since Larry King sat down with Ross Perot and Al Gore to debate the North American Free Trade Agreement. That was back in 1993, and attracted 16.8 million viewers.
It hasn’t been easy to top those ratings, but this is, of course, the Summer of Trump. CNN’s upcoming Republican debate may shatter the network’s longstanding record, and CNN is setting its advertising rates accordingly, reports the Los Angeles Times:
Based on (viewership of Fox News’ GOP debate), the Sept. 16 GOP debate with Trump and his competitors at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library in Simi Valley is expected to be the most watched event ever on CNN. And the network is cashing in on the anticipation.
AdvertisementCNN is not disclosing its ratings projections or ad prices, but competitors are hearing that advertisers are being asked to pay in the range of $150,000 for a 30-second spot, a figure more in line with a hit prime time entertainment show.
“It’s a lot more than we’d get if Trump weren’t in it,” said one CNN executive not authorized to discuss the figure.