WASHINGTON, D.C. – By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans preferred watching the presidential and vice presidential debates on broadcast television networks to cable networks according to Nielsen data, the National Association of Broadcasters announced today.
Nielsen ratings data show that 65.9 million viewers, representing 45.6 million television households, watched at least one of the three presidential debates between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. In total, 43.7 million viewers, representing 30.7 million TV households, watched at least one presidential debate on a broadcast TV network ((ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, PBS and Univision) compared to 22.2 million viewers, representing 14.9 million TV households, who watched the debates on a cable channel (CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Current TV and CNBC).
"Broadcast television has a legacy as the leading source of information when there's breaking news or history is transpiring," said National Association of Broadcasters Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton. "The ratings from this year's debates are further proof that legacy remains intact."
| Presidential Debate | Broadcast Network Viewers | Cable Network Viewers | Total Television Viewers |
| October 3 Denver, Colo. |
45.2 million (31.6 million households) |
21.9 million (14.6 million households) |
67.1 million ( 46.2 million households) |
| October 16 Hempstead, N .Y. |
43 million (30.3 million households) |
22.6 million (15.2 million households) |
65.6 million (45.5 million households) |
| Octobe r 22 Boca Raton, Fla. |
37.3 million (26.3 million households) |
2 1.9 million (14.9 million househol ds) |
59.2 million (41.2 million households) |
| Total viewers of at least one debate | 43.7 million (30.7 million households) |
22.2 million (14.9 million households) |
65.9 million (45.6 million households) |
Additionally, the October 11 vice presidential debate in Danville, Ky. between Vice President Joe Biden and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan was watched by 51.4 million viewers representing 36.4 million TV households. Nielsen ratings data show that 32.2 million viewers, representing 23 million TV households, watched this debate on broadcast networks while 19.2 million viewers representing 13.4 million TV households watched on cable networks.
The debate ratings highlight the results of a recent survey which found broadcast networks are the top source of presidential election news, and television was the medium most voters cited as a resource in helping them decide for whom to cast their ballot.
Last week, WPP-owned Mindshare released a survey conducted in September that found 60% of respondents received news on the presidential election from broadcast network news coverage, more than any other source cited by respondents. The poll also found that the single most important factor for voters in deciding who to vote for was seeing the presidential candidates talk on television.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
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