GOP Debate Gives CNN It’s Best Ratings EVER… But Still Not As Good As Fox’s
Well, it’s official. The ratings are in for the second GOP debate, and it got CNN the best ratings… ever!!!
Wednesday’s prime time GOP debate averaged 22.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched program in CNN’s history.
The 6 p.m. “undercard” debate drew 6.3 million viewers.
For comparison’s sake, CNN’s most-watched presidential primary debate before Wednesday was a Democratic debate on January 31, 2008. It had an average of 8.3 million viewers.
CNN’s most-watched program overall was a special “Larry King Live” episode in 1993. The episode featured Al Gore and Ross Perot debating NAFTA and averaged 16.8 million viewers.
Wednesday’s matchup easily surpassed that total.
These are NFL-level ratings — affirming that the Donald Trump fueled Republican debate slate is one of the most popular television shows of the year.
CNN’s debate was slightly lower-rated than Fox’s GOP face-off one month ago in Ohio.
That prime-time debate, the first of the season, averaged 24 million live viewers. Its earlier debate that day averaged 6.1 million.
The Donald has been demanding he get his due for the increased ratings:
Just announced that in the history of @CNN, last night’s debate was its highest rated ever. Will they send me flowers & a thank you note?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 17, 2015
And earlier, he asked that some of the profits be turned over to a charity:
Just announced that because of "Trump", advertising rates for debate on @CNN are going from $5000 to $200,000, a 4000% increase.PAY CHARITY?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2015
Yeah, the way that Brooke Baldwin is salivating into her blue dress right now over the ratings, I kinda doubt they’ll be giving up any of their ad revenue.
