An average of 52 million Americans watched the presidential debates in 2004, though that doesn’t include C-Span. NBC was the ratings leader in debate coverage.
Source: Data for commercial broadcast and cable networks is Nielsen Research data as published in The Los Angeles Times on October 2, 2004, October 12, 2004, and October 18, 2004. PBS estimated audience numbers based on data provided to PEJ.
Note: Average viewership of three debates
Date Posted: March 13, 2005