Donald Trump’s Yuge Ratings: RNC Speech Tops Romney’s, McCain’s
CNN sees some particularly impressive gains
Tony Maglio | July 22, 2016 @ 11:30 AM
Last Updated: July 22, 2016 @ 1:50 PM
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Donald Trump’s (very long) speech on the final night of the 2016 Republican National Convention scored more cable news views than Mitt Romney’s comparable turn in 2012 — and even more than John McCain’s 2008 acceptance.
From 10:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET, when the current GOP presidential candidate’s speech actually happened, CNN soared 132 percent above 2012 in total viewers and 102 percent in the main 25-54 news demo. Big dog Fox News, which topped both cable news and broadcast TV coverage in total viewers and the main demo, was up slightly in its overall audience versus 2012, but down a hair in the demo — for the speech, at least.
MSNBC saw nice double-digit gains from its last RNC closer, up 54 percent in total viewers and 39 percent in the demo.
Versus 2008, CNN grew 16 percent in total viewers, MSNBC rose 13 percent and FNC ticked up 3 percent. They were all down in the demo to varying degrees when measured against the Sarah Palin year.
For another way of looking at last night, here are the averages across both cable news and broadcast for the 10 o’clock hour itself, broken down by both total viewers and adults 25-54:
Total Viewers (10 p.m. hour) Fox News – 9.35 million
CNN — 5.48 million
NBC – 4.59 million
ABC – 3.87 million
CBS – 3.81 million
MSNBC 2.95 million
Adults 25-54 (10 p.m.) Fox News – 2.48 million
CNN – 1.90 million
NBC – 1.77 million
ABC – 1.43 million
CBS – 1.21 million
MSNBC – 927,000
Readers can check out the fast nationals from just the 10 o’clock hour here, as well as the rest of broadcast’s primetime ratings.
On Twitter, the RNC landed just north of 2 million tweets from 470,000 unique authors, very comfortably topping the night by that Nielsen social measurement.
RNC: Behind the Scenes of the Media Mob (Photos)
From interviewing attendees to analyzing speeches, reporters for major media outlets like NBC News, CNN and the New York Times all took part in the RNC coverage craze.
TheWrap
Hallie Jackson, NBC News
It's social media time for NBC News correspondent Hallie Jackson.
Itay Hod/TheWrap
Gabe Sherman, New York Magazine
New York Magazine's national affairs editor was seen running between appearances at the convention.
Sharon Waxman/TheWrap
"Socialism Sucks"
A member of "Socialism Sucks," an anti-Bernie Sanders group, gets interviewed by Info Wars.
Sharon Waxman/TheWrap
Chris Cuomo, CNN
The "New Day" host prepares to go on air inside the convention center.
Itay Hod/TheWrap
MSNBC
The cable news network's makeshift studio comes complete with several director's chairs.
Itay Hod/TheWrap
Jordan Klepper, "The Daily Show"
The Comedy Central correspondent interviews someone who apparently really loves capitalism.
Itay Hod/TheWrap
NBC News
Here's what it looks like in front of the cameras at NBC News' RNC studio.
Itay Hod/TheWrap
NBC News
And here's the studio at a different angle.
Itay Hod/TheWrap
Jeanine Pirro, "Judge Jeanine"
Pirro, who has a segment on Fox News called "Justice with Judge Jeanine," has been vocal about her support for Trump.
Itay Hod/TheWrap
New York Times
Reporter and columnist Dan Barry, staff photographer Todd Heisler, former NYT photographer and Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Keating, and assistant Haomin Wei congregate on Euclid Ave.
Sharon Waxman/TheWrap
CNN Grill
Complete with an operational restaurant and several bars, the CNN Grill — located at the Harry Buffalo restaurant in Cleveland — serves as the network's RNC newsroom.
CNN
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Ever wondered what it’s like to cover a political convention?
From interviewing attendees to analyzing speeches, reporters for major media outlets like NBC News, CNN and the New York Times all took part in the RNC coverage craze.