McCain TV Ratings Beat Obama in Preliminary Numbers

[Lauri]

McCain TV Ratings Beat Obama in Preliminary Numbers
By Andrew Krukowski

Presidential candidate John McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention drew more television viewers than his rival Barack Obama attracted at the Democratic party's event last week, according to preliminary ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

Across all broadcast networks Thursday, Sen. McCain’s speech ended the night with a 4.8 rating/7 share, compared to Sen. Obama’s 4.3/7 average, according to overnight numbers from metered households in 55 U.S. markets measured by Nielsen. These ratings are preliminary, however, and are subject to change.

NBC’s coverage of Sen. McCain’s speech started directly at the tail end of the opening game of NFL season, with the speech pulling in a 6.3 rating/10 share, topping Sen. Obama’s speech last week by 26%. That lead-in may have boosted audiences who last night turned out in droves to watch Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin introduce herself to the country.

ABC’s showing of the McCain speech averaged a 4.5/7, down 2% from the same night of the Democratic convention last week, while CBS’ coverage took in a 3.4/5, an increase of 3%.

(Editor: Baumann. Updated 7:31 a.m. to add Palin in third paragraph.)

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/09/mccain_tv_ratings_beat_obama_i.php


man! the comment section is just beating Obama to death.. they are seeing thru this guy and he has lost them 

[Lauri]

some really excellent comments there but this one stood out..

scott: This is even more amazing when you consider that BET, Telemundo, TV One, and Univision channels covered Obamas speach but did not cover Palin's or McCain's speaches. They counted the viewers from these networks in the Obama Neilson ratings. I also heard today that Mistress Oprah will not let McCain or Palin on her tv show. This is after letting the Blessed Obamas on her show for an hour long love fest. She has the right not to let people on that she dosen't want on her show, but it makes her look petty and small. How can anyone still think that there is no media bias against conservatives when networks choose not to cover their speaches or let them on their programs?

Posted by scott | September 5, 2008 9:23 AM

wouldnt Oprah really hate that Fairness Doctrine? 

[miskie]

I guess people aren't as impressed with Styrofoam Greek columns as they once were.. Ahh memories...   

[bijou]

They are really laying into Obama.

[Chris]

McCain beats Obama by 500,000

The Republican nominee beat Democratic challenger Barack Obama's record-setting convention speech viewership by 500,000.

McCain's address at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night was seen by about 38.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Obama received 38.4 million.

That means McCain's speech is now the most-watched in convention history -- 41% higher than President Bush's acceptance speech four years ago, and 1% higher than Obama's address last week.


(more...)

[miskie]

Oops one less talking point for Obama - and frankly I expected numbers lower that Palin received.

 * I guess all that money and glitz doesn't buy as much as a good candidate does, eh Barack ?

Anyway, I expect the left to twist it into 'they watched to "understand the enemy", "watch him fail", "laugh", "find new material to go after McCain/Palin with" ' etc etc etc. and that the numbers are inflated.

Oh, cant forget "Nielsen Media Research is part of the GOP propaganda ring and these numbers are false"