July 8, 2009 11 Comments
Updated: A memorial service held in honor of Michael Jackson drew more than 31 million television viewers in the U.S. The event was carried live from approximately 1pm ET to 4pm ET on 18 networks: ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Telefutura, Telemundo, Univision, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Headline News, BET, E!, MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic, TV Guide Network, and TV ONE. Read about the event’s effect on networks and social networks.
Undoubtedly one of the most well-known figures in the world, Michael Jackson’s death has drawn significant attention. Here is a summary of other notable personalities whose death generated mass television interest.
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Tags: memorial service, Michael Jackson
From the stats above, it appears Princess Diana attracted a larger audience across a smaller number of networks. Most interesting is the fact that with the music industry in shambles, people who, one month ago, would have snubbed the idea of purchasing ANY Michael Jackson mp3s or CDs are downloading mp3s in droves and buying CDs as if they were suddenly going to disappear. Where were all Michael’s “fans” when he was alive?
and if you include the number of people who watched online (which didn’t exist for most of these others) it’d be the highest ever, more than Reagan.
Not bad considering it was the middle of a work day. If it had been on the weekend like Reagan’s burial or Di’s funeral it most likely would have had an even higher viewership.
31 million watching…31+ million uninsured and unemployed…Sounds about right…..
Will internet viewers get added into the numbers? Most of the people I know watched it online. In 1997 you could not view live events online like you can now. Beautiful service, RIP – Michael J. Jackson.
VH1 Soul and Bet J also aired it.
[...] via -nielsen wire. [...]
[...] Nielsen Wire var addthis_pub = ‘yourentertainmentnow’; var addthis_language = ‘en’;var addthis_options = [...]
Does the figure includes worldwide viewership? I watch the live telecast in Malaysia and finishing at 4am. It would be great to know what the number is like.
Michael Jackson’s audience was 31 million viewers in the US alone and not worldwide. So, I am sure he got the biggest audience.
Hey what about Elvis Presley?
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