In comparison, the annual Country Music Awards, which aired on ABC, got 1.71 million more viewers, or 6.63 million total viewers.
The third GOP debate brought in lower ratings than the previous two—marking a continuing decrease in viewership in the 2024 battle for which Republican could best take on the frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, who has skipped all of the debates.
The NBC News debate on Nov. 8—moderated by Lester Holt, Kristen Welker, and conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt—attracted only 4.92 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Just 500,000 people aged 18-49 tuned in.
In comparison, the annual Country Music Awards, which aired on ABC, got 1.71 million more viewers, or 6.63 million total viewers, with 800,000 of them in the 18-49 age category, according to Nielsen.
While the NBC debate did attract more overall viewers than CBS’ “Survivor,” there were more in the 18-49 age group who watched the hit reality show than the debate, with 700,000 in that category.
Moreover, according to Nielsen, just over 12.8 million people tuned in to the first primary debate—hosted by Fox News on Aug. 23—with more than 2.8 million of them between the ages of 25 and 54, while the second one, on Sept. 27 on Fox Business Network, garnered 9.5 million viewers, 2 million of whom were in the 25-54 age range.
After all, it was inevitable that the ratings would be unimpressive, according to media experts who spoke to The Epoch Times.
“It is clear to me that this debate may not draw as many viewers as other primary debates held this year,” said George Mason University journalism professor David Miller before the debate.
“With the nation already divided and anxious, it is unlikely to have any significant impact,” he continued. “The producers may be hoping for sensational moments or soundbites that can be shared on social media, but only if the candidates are foolish enough to oblige.”
“If GOP primary voters are tuning out in growing numbers, due either to declining interest, fatigue, ‘boring’ campaigns, etc., it’s their loss,” T. Becket Adams, program director of the right-wing National Journalism Center, told The Epoch Times.
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