Last night’s debate between U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his Republican opponent Paul Ryan attracted an audience of 28.4 million viewers on the four major broadcast networks.
The CBS Corp. (CBS) network drew 8.37 million viewers, to lead broadcasters, according to preliminary Nielsen data. Results for cable TV networks and adjustments for time-zone differences will be available later today.
Biden, 69, and Ryan, 42, faced off for 90 minutes at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky in a debate moderated by Martha Raddatz of ABC News. While Biden often referred to Ryan as “my friend,” the debate was significantly more adversarial than last week’s face-off between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney, which drew an audience of 67.2 million, including cable viewers.
The debate was held as polls showed a tightening race between the president and his challenger. Biden and Ryan sparred on abortion, the economy and foreign policy, while also offering personal insights about their shared Catholic faith.
ABC was second with 7.39 million viewers, NBC third at 7.09 million and Fox drew 5.52 million, the Nielsen data show.
To contact the reporter on this story: Andy Fixmer in Los Angeles at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at [email protected]
The CBS Corp. (CBS) network drew 8.37 million viewers, to lead broadcasters, according to preliminary Nielsen data. Results for cable TV networks and adjustments for time-zone differences will be available later today.
Biden, 69, and Ryan, 42, faced off for 90 minutes at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky in a debate moderated by Martha Raddatz of ABC News. While Biden often referred to Ryan as “my friend,” the debate was significantly more adversarial than last week’s face-off between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney, which drew an audience of 67.2 million, including cable viewers.
The debate was held as polls showed a tightening race between the president and his challenger. Biden and Ryan sparred on abortion, the economy and foreign policy, while also offering personal insights about their shared Catholic faith.
ABC was second with 7.39 million viewers, NBC third at 7.09 million and Fox drew 5.52 million, the Nielsen data show.
To contact the reporter on this story: Andy Fixmer in Los Angeles at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at [email protected]