Fox Business Network’s GOP debate delivered 13.5 million viewers on Tuesday night, a record rating for the network.
The performance fell just shy of CNBC’s Oct. 28 debate, which drew 14 million viewers. It’s important to note FBN isn’t as widely distributed as CNBC, which makes the numbers even more impressive.
The television rating doesn’t include numbers from the livestream of the debate, which at its peak attracted 1.4 million concurrent online users. That online number rivals last year’s Super Bowl, which attracted similar numbers.
The debate’s tone was decidedly less combative between moderators and candidates — the highlight of CNBC’s debate.
Economic policy questions were front and center, and aside from a few tense exchanges between candidates the debate was mostly civil.
As TheWrap reported, key moments revolved around Donald Trump getting booed by the Milwaukee crowd, Jeb Bush showing signs of life and Ben Carson winning over the audience by accusing Hillary Clinton of being a liar.
The next GOP debate will air on CNN on Dec. 15.