Palin Nabs Highest '08 Broadcast TV Convention Ratings

[book_worm]

I figured because of all the controversy about her that she would be a ratings hit:

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech during Wednesday night’s Republican National Convention bested Democratic speeches from Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and, in some cases, Barack Obama in preliminary ratings.

Speaking last night, along with former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Gov. Palin took in a 5.4 rating/8 share on NBC, according to preliminary overnight household data from Nielsen Media Research, measuring 55 markets across the United States.

In terms of this year’s conventions, the preliminary rating for NBC’s coverage last night is higher than any other night of the convention on the broadcast networks, including Sen. Obama’s nomination acceptance speech on Aug. 28.

However, the ratings are preliminary and are subject to change.

ABC averaged a 4.0/6, up more than a full ratings point against the DNC’s third day, and CBS scored a 3.1/5, beating its previous Wednesday coverage by 29%.
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/09/palins_speech_powers_highest_0.php

[LynneSin]

1. Of course she did - half the people who watched were democrats waiting for her to screwup

Didn't have to worry about that with Biden or Obama - they are seasoned pros

[demokatgurrl]

11. Yeah, I even have a few friends who watched it out

of curiosity. Thanks, pals.

[libertypirate]

18. Market share does not equate total volume of those paying attention. /nt

[KittyWampus]

22. How many Youtube hits will she get?

[NashVegas]

2. Let Me Know If

That translates to, what was it? 38 million?

[onenote]

3. as expected. Yet some here contended that virtually no one would be watching

The tendency of some DUers to put their heads in the sand and not fact reality is troubling. This election is winnable -- indeed, its still ours to lose. But not dealing with reality is a surefire way to give up our advantage.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6907234
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6922183#6922398 (post 13)

On edit: Admittedly, those claiming that the audience would be small were the exceptions.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

4. Another WASHINGTON CELEBRITY... no substance

Hey wait.......... wasn't that what ... hmmm.....................

[writes3000]

5. Fantastic news. People saw her and the majority will not like her. Bank it. nt

[TheCoxwain]

16. Bulls EYE

[4themind]

6. Not entirely Unexpected

If you looked at the google searches over the past week, she's had more hits than Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Michael Phelps, and Obama combined. Firstly, she's a relatively unknown commodity, so she will attract the curiosity factor, from all sides (whearas hardcore fundies would not be likely to watch Obama, since he IS well known and they are predisposed against him in many cases). She'll additionally draw from women that are interested in the historic (for a republican) nature of her candidacy, and honestly even some 18-25 year old males that think she's attractive. Now this is bad in the sense that a lot of people gave her an opportunity to express her views (I'd take apathy to her anyday of the week) , but it remains to be seen whether this will be an overall net positive or net negative. This really puts those "celebrity" attacks against obama now in a new cynical light doesn't it? They'll LIKE this attention and celebrity, as long as it helps them.

[glowing]

7. Well, I'd say most people watched to see what she was all about.

I'd say more of them were people who weren't voting for them anyway.. and wanted to see what she sounded like and looked like.. I didn't watch.. I went to bed early... for once. But I've gotten snippets all day.. Her voice is ten times more shrill than Clinton's and she sounded like an idiot.

[Life Long Dem]

8. I saw a lot of empty seats.

[yourguide]

9. some overnight nielsen audience numbers

NBC 7.72 mil
ABC 5.05 mil
CBS 4.63 mil

Not sure that share NBC number is accurate tho. This is showing lower but it's also only showing the low end demos

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/09/04/ratings-wednesday-september-3-bones-opens-strong-top-model-weak/4917


Compare to the Obama numbers:

CNN 8.1 mil
ABC 6.6 mil
NBC 6.1 mil
CBS 4.7 mil
FOX 4.2 mil
MSNBC 4.1 mil

[On the Road]

10. She Certainly is Meat Candy

although a lot of viewers didn't seem to like the taste.

[Alter Ego]

12. ...but how many watching liked what they saw?

[dave29]

13. remember also... a lot of us were watching

(and barfing)

[Riddler]

14. It's great so many people saw the repukes for the hate-mongering

scare inducing bigots they really are. I only wish EVERYBODY had seen it so more people would know what a joke McCain/Palin really are.

[smoochpooch]

15. Most of those people also saw Rudy speaking before Palin, saying the same old

9/11 speech. I think most people are tired of that 9/11 stuff, it's not 2004.

[Egnever]

17. Good!

Hopefully the same amount will watch again tonight if not more.

Despite the spew of the chattering class this morning i don't think they did themselves any favors last night.

The more people that witness this train wreck the better.

[Cha]

21. Prescisely!

pailin was hatin' and I hope a lot of Dems saw that and were ENERGIZED:bounce:

[progressivebydesign]

19. Look at the demographics of republicans -- they are more likely to watch tv. n/t

[NotThisTime]

20. Their newest claim is that it had 12.75 million viewers.... Beating HRC by 250K viewers

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/09/palin_beats_hillary_biden_in_b.php

Palin Beats Hillary, Biden in Broadcast Ratings

By Michele Greppi

Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s speech at the Republican National Convention last night drew more than 12.75 million viewers on the three broadcast networks, beating out the audiences that tuned into the Democratic convention last week to watch Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Joe Biden.

Sarah Palin

Preliminary national data from Nielsen Media Research shows that’s slightly ahead of the 12.5 million that saw the broadcast coverage of Sen. Clinton’s call for party unity on night 2 of last week’s Democratic gathering and Sen. Joe Biden’s speech accepting the VP nomination for the Democrats on night 3 of their convention last week.

Gov. Palin’s audience was up from the less than 11 million people who watched former Democrat-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman Tuesday night on the three broadcast networks’ coverage of the GOP gathering.

It’s also up from the 10.32 million who watched convention specials on the broadcast networks on night 3 of the Republican gathering in 2004.

NBC won the network race at 10 p.m. with an average 7.62 million viewers, according to fast national data from Nielsen Media Research.

ABC finished the three-way broadcast race with an average 5.05 million viewers. CBS was third with 4.63 million viewers