September 27, 2008
The combined overall household rating for Friday night’s presidential debate, in 55 of the 56 local television markets where Nielsen maintains electronic TV meters, was 34.7.
One rating point equals 1% of the total TV audience in a given market.
Coverage of the first presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CNN, Telemundo, TeleFutura, BBCA, Fox News, MSNBC, and C-Span.
Previously, Nielsen reported that the combined overall household rating for the top 55 local markets was 33.2. That rating excluded households that viewed the debate on Fox News, MSNBC, and C-Span.
National ratings for Friday night’s debate will be available from Nielsen on Monday.
For press inquiries or for more information on this article contact Nielsen
Tags: Barack Obama, campaign, debate, election, financial crisis, first debate, first presidential debate, foreign policy, Jim Lehrer, John McCain, Politics, president, presidential debate, September 26, University of Mississippi
