McCain Beats Obama...in Ratings
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
Barack Obama spoke in a football stadium. John McCain spoke after a football game.
Ratings-wise, both moves were good. But McCain's was bigger.
Last night's McCain speech at the Republican National Convention was watched by nearly 39 million people, Nielsen Media Research said today.
In setting a new decade high for a convention speech, the GOP presidential nominee edged Democratic counterpart Obama (38.4 million), and McCain's suddenly famous running mate, Sarah Palin (37.2 million).
Football might have been the difference-maker.
On NBC, the McCain speech aired right after the conclusion of the NFL's football-season opener, a game which averaged 13.6 million viewers from 8-10 p.m. (ET).
While it's unknown how many football fans stuck around for McCain, the game definitely boosted NBC, if not the Republican contender. Last week, about 6 million watched Obama's speech on NBC. Last night, a broadcast-network-best 8 million caught McCain on the same network.
As for Obama, not only didn't he speak after a football game, he addressed his convention during the runup to Labor Day, usually one of the least-watched TV weeks of the year.
Obama's speech, however, was carried live by two more networks than McCain's (eight), and by four more than Palin's (six).
Overall, both political conventions were ratings winners for their respective parties.
The Democrats' audience numbers were up 66 percent over 2004; the Repubicans' were up 42 percent over their convention's final three nights in 2004.
In head-to-head competition, the Republican convention beat the Democratic convention. The Republicans averaged 32.5 million viewers for their three prime-time nights, Tuesday-Thursday. Over the same period last week, the Democratics averaged 29.5 million.
BIG PICTURE
Bling It On Even excess accessories look slammin' on style-tastic risk-taker Rihanna
More PhotosE! News Now
-
Rosie Revives Classic TV
Rosie O'Donnell is bringing back the variety show with "Rosie Live." Sneak a behind-the-scenes peek at her new show.
-
Alessandra's Slimdown Secrets
Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio is back to a size two only three months after giving birth! How'd she do it?
-
Tyra's "Twilight" Love Bite
Tyra Banks goes batty over hunky vampire player Robert Pattinson and gives him something to sink his teeth into: her.
-
Oprah's Favorite Cheap Things
This year the Big O is sharing some of her favorite frugal things. Find out what you can buy for next to nothing!
Most Commented
- Lipstick Jungle: Is It Really Dead or What? (758)
- Help Us Help You (266)
- Old Christine's Wanda Sykes: "I'm Proud to be Gay" (154)
- Heroes Redux: Who Is Sylar's Baby Mama? (135)
- Miley Cyrus Victim of Hacker Hoax (125)
- Who Should Perform at the Obama Inauguration? (114)
- Why Won't BrangelAniston Just Go Away? (107)
- Barack Obama Draws a Crowd...on 60 Minutes (105)
- DWTS Backstage Dirt: Cody Cries! And Derek Disses (102)
- Twilight's World Premiere Rocks Los Angeles (93)
Top 10 Stories
- Travis Barker Sues Over "Defective" Jet Crash
- Twilight's Monster $35 Mil Debut
- Britney Shows Up in Court to Talk Touring
- David Duchovny Kills Tabloid Beef
- Tyra Deal! Talk Show Joins Top Model at CW
- Jodie Sweetin's Not So Sweet Split
- Bruce Willis' Latest Thriller: A Royal Rubber Row
- Bloom Already Off Rosie O'Donnell's View Apology
- Jason Bourne Renews License to Kill James Bond
- Dead Denny Livens Up Grey's Anatomy Ratings
Hot Topics
Fashion Police
Holiday BluesReese premieres her new film Four Christmases in a lovely navy gown—but where's her spirit?
More Photos
More Pics from mystyle.com
Our Partners
Shop
-
The Girls Next Door, 2009 Calendar Have your favorite girls with you all year long!
-
The Soup "Coffee, Tea or...Soup" Mug Spend $40 on oup stuff and get the new mug for only $5!
Get Your E! News Now
E! News Now
-
Rosie Revives Classic TV
Rosie O'Donnell is bringing back the variety show with "Rosie Live." Sneak a behind-the-scenes peek at her new show.
-
Alessandra's Slimdown Secrets
Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio is back to a size two only three months after giving birth! How'd she do it?
-
Tyra's "Twilight" Love Bite
Tyra Banks goes batty over hunky vampire player Robert Pattinson and gives him something to sink his teeth into: her.
-
Oprah's Favorite Cheap Things
This year the Big O is sharing some of her favorite frugal things. Find out what you can buy for next to nothing!
103 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 103 comments
Now loading...