Ratings Report: ABC News Programming

ABC News-National Constitution Center-WPVI-TV's Democratic Presidential Debate ABC News' Debate Is Most-Watched of 2008 Presidential Cycle

10.7 Million Total Viewers Tune in to Democratic Debate

Program Outperforms Previous Debate Viewing High by Double Digits Among Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54

Last night's Democratic presidential debate hosted by ABC News, the National Constitution Center, and WPVI-TV was easily the most-watched of the 2008 presidential cycle. The debate averaged 10.7 million Total Viewers, a 3.5/9 among Adults 25-54, and a 2.7/7 among Adults 18-49. The debate was moderated by ABC News anchors Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and aired from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT on the ABC Television Network.

For the Wednesday 8-10 p.m. time period, this marks ABC's best Total Viewing audience since 11/28/07, its largest Adult 18-49 rating since 2/27/08, and its best Adult 25-54 rating since 1/9/08.

The first hour of Wednesday's debate ranked first in its time period among Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54. Up against Fox's "American Idol" and an original episode of CBS' "Criminal Minds" at 9 p.m., the debate retained 96% of it Total Viewing audience, retained 100% of its Adults 25-54 audience, and grew 4% among Adults 18-49 from the first hour to the second hour.

Additionally, the debate beat "American Idol" program-to-program in four markets: Philadelphia, Orlando, San Antonio and Albuquerque, according to Household ratings.

Last night's debate outperformed the previous debate viewing record (which also aired on ABC) by double digits in key categories - by 14% among Total Viewers, 21% among Adults 25-54, and 17% among Adults 18-49. The previous high for this election cycle was ABC's January 5th Democratic presidential debate, which averaged 9.4 million, a 2.9/7 among Adults 25-54, and a 2.3/6 among Adults 18-49. Charles Gibson moderated the forum in Manchester, New Hampshire, just days before the state's first-in-the-nation primary.

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)

Total Viewers Adults 18-49 Adults 25-54

Democratic Debate 10.7 million 2.7/7 3.5/9

Source: Nielsen Media Research (Fast Affiliate Live + Same Day Ratings / Metered Market Household Ratings), 4/16/08