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Coverage dated June 24, 2024 to June 28, 2024

CNN Presidential Debate Drew Nearly 48 Million Viewers Across All Networks [Preliminary Numbers]

Headline from Adweek, on the newest of 3 developments

9.04 million watched the debate across CNN, CNN en Espanol and HLN, making it the network’s highest-rated program ever.

Adweek's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. CNN stands to make millions from the Trump-Biden debate, but its rivals could make even more

    Headline from Insider ·

  2. Millions Will Watch Tonight’s Trump-Biden Debate—But Ratings Have Fallen For Years: Here’s How Viewership Compares

    Headline from Forbes ·

  3. Newest

    CNN Presidential Debate Drew Nearly 48 Million Viewers Across All Networks [Preliminary Numbers]

    Headline from Adweek ·

1 report not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

30 articles, oldest first.

  1. Insider

    CNN stands to make millions from the Trump-Biden debate, but its rivals could make even more (opens Insider)

    Published

    Insider's feed description

    Though CNN is hosting Thursday's debate, other, networks can air their own commercials and could earn more money.

  2. The American Spectator

    Trump vs. CNN and Biden - The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator | USA News and Politics (opens The American Spectator)

    Published

    The American Spectator's feed description

    This debate isn't about Trump and Biden. It is about a news agency, CNN, unhinged by its hostility toward Donald Trump.

  3. New York Post

    Trump supporters more likely to watch debate than Biden backers, survey finds (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Polling shows there is a marked difference between those who say they’re sure things when it comes to watching Thursday night’s CNN debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump in Atlanta — and those who aren’t.

  4. FOX Business

    Trump, Biden CNN Presidential Debate expected to be most wagered-on in history (opens FOX Business)

    Published

    FOX Business's feed description

    Bettors from around the world are swarming to place their wagers on the outcome and happenings of the CNN Presidential Debate between former President Trump and President Biden.

  5. Forbes

    Millions Will Watch Tonight’s Trump-Biden Debate—But Ratings Have Fallen For Years: Here’s How Viewership Compares (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    The most watched presidential debate in history was between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump back in 2016—and viewership has been falling ever since.

  6. Slate Magazine

    We Already Know the Winner of Tonight’s Debate—and It’s Not Trump or Biden (opens Slate Magazine)

    Published

    Slate Magazine's feed description

    Being the only outlet that can frame the debate for audiences in real time gives CNN a shocking amount of power.

  7. New York Post

    Majority of presidential debate watchers say Trump beat Biden: poll (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Sixty-seven percent of those polled said Trump, 76, turned in a better performance during Thursday night's debate, while just 33% believe 81-year-old Biden was the clear winner, according to the CNN poll conducted by SSRS.

  8. Variety

    Biden-Trump Debate Watched By Nearly 48 Million Viewers, CNN Says Highest-Rated Program In Its History (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    According to the CNN's report of Nielsen Fast National data, a combined 47.9 million total viewers watched the Biden-Trump Presidential Debate on TV.

  9. Forbes

    48 Million Viewers Watch CNN’s Presidential Debate Across Broadcast And Cable News (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    8.7 million viewers watched the CNN debate on host network CNN, with the bulk of viewers watching the event simulcast on other networks.

  10. Fox News

    CNN flash poll shows Trump as clear winner of first presidential debate: 'Stunning number' (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    CNN's flash poll following the presidential debate showed that a strong majority of viewers believe former President Trump won the showdown against President Biden.

  11. Forbes

    Biden/Trump Presidential Debate: 48 Million Viewers Watched (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    Close to 48 million viewers for this first Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is well below the 73 million for their first face-off in 2020.

  12. CNN

    47.9 million viewers tuned in to CNN’s presidential debate with Biden and Trump (opens CNN)

    Published

    CNN's feed description

    CNN’s Thursday night debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump was watched by 47.9 million viewers on television, according to preliminary figures from Nielsen.

  13. ABC 17 Mid-Missouri

    CNN Flash Poll: Majority of debate watchers say Trump outperformed Biden (opens ABC 17 Mid-Missouri)

    Published

    ABC 17 Mid-Missouri's feed description

    By Ariel Edwards-Levy and Jennifer Agiesta, CNN (CNN) — Registered voters who watched CNN’s presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump largely think Trump outperformed Biden, according to a CNN poll of debate watchers conducted by SSRS, with most saying they have no real confidence in Bi…

  14. NBC News

    CNN says 47.9 million people watched the presidential debate (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    CNN said Friday that 47.9 million people watched the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, making it the highest-rated program in the network's history — as well as its most live-streamed.

  15. Forbes

    Over 51 Million Watched Trump-Biden Debate On TV—Way Down From 2020 (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    A CNN flash poll following the debate last night found 67% of watchers thought former President Donald Trump outperformed President Joe Biden.

  16. New York Post

    CNN says Biden-Trump debate draws nearly 48M viewers — most in network’s history (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    The first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump drew an audience just shy of 48 million viewers.

  17. KTVZ Bend

    51 million viewers tuned in to CNN’s presidential debate with Biden and Trump (opens KTVZ Bend)

    Published

    KTVZ Bend's feed description

    By Hadas Gold, CNN (CNN) — CNN’s Thursday night debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump was watched by 51.27 million viewers on television, according to Nielsen data. The 90-minute debate, which sent shockwaves through the political world, was simulcast across 22 network…

  18. Los Angeles Times

    CNN Biden-Trump debate draws nearly 50 million TV viewers, a major drop from 2020 (opens Los Angeles Times)

    Published

    Los Angeles Times's feed description

    The debate was widely considered a chance for CNN to burnish its brand as a trusted purveyor of major news. The event went poorly for President Biden.

  19. Insider

    Nearly 48 million people watched the Trump-Biden debate on TV, but that's nothing compared to previous election years (opens Insider)

    Published

    Insider's feed description

    Though CNN hosted the debate, the network did not attract the most viewers — that prize went to Fox News.

  20. Deadline

    CNN Says 47.9 Million Watched Presidential Debate; TV Viewership Is Down From First Event Of 2020 (opens Deadline)

    Published

    Deadline's feed description

    CNN said that 47.9 million watched the presidential debate across TV platforms on Thursday night, according to Nielsen Fast National data. A more complete picture of the debate audience is expected later this afternoon.

  21. Forbes

    Nearly 48 Million Watched Trump-Biden Debate On TV—Way Down From 2020 (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    A CNN flash poll following the debate last night found 67% of watchers thought former President Donald Trump outperformed President Joe Biden.

  22. Breitbart News

    CNN Flash Poll: Debate Watchers Overwhelmingly Award Trump Victory (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Viewers of Thursday night's presidential debate on CNN hammered President Joe Biden's historically poor performance.

  23. ABC 12 Flint

    Flash Poll: Majority of debate watchers say Trump outperformed Biden (opens ABC 12 Flint)

    Published

    ABC 12 Flint's feed description

    Registered voters who watched CNN

  24. Adweek

    CNN Presidential Debate Drew Nearly 48 Million Viewers Across All Networks [Preliminary Numbers] (opens Adweek)

    Published

    Adweek's feed description

    9.04 million watched the debate across CNN, CNN en Espanol and HLN, making it the network’s highest-rated program ever.

  25. New York Times

    51.3 Million Viewers Tuned In for Shaky Biden and Boisterous Trump (opens New York Times)

    Published

    New York Times's feed description

    It was the smallest TV audience for a presidential debate since 2004, but CNN’s telecast was still among the highest-rated programs of the year.

Showing the first 25 of 27 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.