or


[04/17/08 - 02:13 PM]
Ratings Report: ABC News Programming
ABC spins the numbers for Wednesday, April 16.
[via press release from ABC]

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





  [april 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· AMERICAN IDOL (ABC)
· CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS)




most recent ratings | view all posts
[08/19/26 - 12:01 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of August 10
"Reacher," "Sterling Point," "Off Campus," "The Traitors," and "Elle" led all original series worldwide.
[08/19/26 - 10:02 AM]
2026 Little League Baseball Region Tournaments Deliver Largest Audience Since 2009
The Metro Region Championship matchup between Darien, Conn., and Bayonne, N.J., on August 14 averaged 1.2 million viewers, making it the third most-watched Little League Baseball Region Tournament game ever.
[08/19/26 - 09:31 AM]
For Third Week in a Row, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Is the No. 1 Primetime Entertainment Program Among Total Viewers
Scoring a new season high among Total Viewers (4.41 million), the August 12 episode earned the show's best performance in over a year.
[08/18/26 - 03:05 PM]
ESPN Delivers Its Most-Watched WNBA Game Ever!
The Atlanta Dream-Indiana Fever matchup averaged 2.6 million viewers on Sunday, August 16.
[08/18/26 - 03:04 PM]
FOX Saturday Baseball Sizzles with Most-Watched MLB Telecast of the Week on Any Network
3,083,000 viewers tuned-in to FOX for a three-game slate highlighted by the Brewers' 4-1 win over the Dodgers in most of the country.
[08/18/26 - 02:43 PM]
FOX IndyCar Celebrates Viewership Win at Markham
913,000 viewers watched Andretti Global racer Marcus Ericsson cap a late-race run through the field to score the win at Markham Sunday on FOX.
[08/18/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of August 10 - "My Life with the Walter Boys" Lassos No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
"Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes" launched in the No. 2 spot on the English TV list, gathering 4.9 million views.

[08/14/26 - 01:45 PM]
ABC News Is No. 1 on Sunday Morning and Friday Night
"20/20" saw year-to-year increases in all key target demos: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.
[08/13/26 - 03:39 PM]
ESPN Delivers Its Second Most-Watched WNBA Regular Season Game in 30 Years of Coverage!
The New York Liberty-Indiana Fever matchup averaged 2 million viewers on Tuesday, August 11.
[08/12/26 - 02:29 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Jumps to Best Audience in Three Months
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 182 consecutive weeks (more than three years) across all key measures.
[08/12/26 - 12:01 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of August 3
"Sterling Point," "Ride or Die," "Off Campus," "Reacher," and "Elle" led all original series worldwide.
[08/11/26 - 02:45 PM]
FOX Saturday Baseball Delivers #1 MLB Telecast of the Week on Any Network
2,223,000 viewers tuned-in to a three-game slate that featured the White Sox's 6-3 victory over the Guardians in most of the country.
[08/11/26 - 02:43 PM]
ESPN Delivers Its 2nd Most-Watched WNBA Game Ever for the Second Consecutive Week!
The Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup averaged 2.6 million viewers on ABC on Saturday, August 8.
[08/11/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of August 3 - "The Last House" Invites You to Stay at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
"The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare" held the top spot on the English TV list with 10.6 million views.
[08/10/26 - 10:37 AM]
Discovery's Shark Week Delivers Best Ratings in Seven Years
Primetime telecasts averaged a 0.77 L3 rating among Adults 25-54, marking the largest year-over-year increase in 13 years and the first year of ratings growth since 2023.