More people tuned in to watch Obama's inauguration than Michael Jackson's memorial

[jefferson_dem]

In case you're wondering...

MICHAEL JACKSON'S MEMORIAL
Obama trumped MJ
NEW YORK - MILLIONS worldwide watched the memorial service for Michael Jackson, but the event failed to attract more viewers in the US than the inauguration of President Barack Obama, experts said on Wednesday.

Though no definitive international figures are available, viewership for the Los Angeles farewell ceremony was probably comparable to Princess Diana's funeral in 1997 watched by 2.5 billion people globally, experts said.

'It's a global event for a global celebrity,' said Rich Hanley, a journalism professor at Quinnipiac University. 'The difference with Princess Diana is the role of the Internet, allowing more people to watch,' Prof Hanley told AFP.

In the United States, media metrics institute Nielsen said 31.1 million people watched Jackson's memorial on television. A total of 18 US television stations broadcast the proceedings into 20.6 million US homes.

That compared with 33.2 million Americans who watched Diana's funeral. Other figures provided by European monitors also suggested that slightly fewer people had tuned in for Jackson's memorial.

Tuesday's figure was topped though by the 37.8 million people who followed Obama's inauguration on Jan 20, and overshadowed by the record 85.6 million glued to their sets in January 1991 for the first day of the Gulf War.

<SNIP>

http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_400833.html

[Sultana]

1. Well Duh!

Obama's inauguration was a historical event.

*I didn't sleep that night b4, I was so anxious for it only to have the Chief Justice fuck up the Oath.

[jobycom]

2. I was disgusted by the amount of coverage the inauguration got.

Just a two minute ceremony that happens once every four years, anyway. The world was in turmoil, people were starving in Africa, we had troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the country was mired in a recession, and no one talked about any of that. It was all "Aretha's Franklin's hat" or "Pete Seeger's age" or "Lincoln's Bible."

Christ, you'd think someone famous had died, or something.

[jenmito]

3. Hmmm. On Hardball, tonight's "Big Number" was 5 million-

the number of people who watched Jackson's memorial (on the computer, I think) and they compared it to Obama's inauguration which he put the number at 1.8 or 1.6 million. :eyes:

[BlooInBloo]

4. I think that number was reported by Yahoo as MJ funeral live streamers.

[jenmito]

5. Thanks. Funny, though, how they felt the need to

make Obama's inauguration look so insignificant compared to MJ's memorial.

[alsame]

6. The inauguration was also broadcast in theaters all over

the country. They forgot to mention that too.

[jenmito]

7. Thanks for that...

I don't know why on Hardball they'd try to minimize the interest in Obama's inauguration in favor of Michael Jackson.

[Cha]

8. Because they're frickin' idiots who

don't know shit from shinola?

[jenmito]

11. THAT sounds about right, too.

:hi:

[Raine1967]

21. +1

Thank you!

[alsame]

9. Maybe to justify all the hours they spent on it? Personally, I don't

think they should be comparing events like this - it just proves how it's all about ratings for them and they really don't care about anything else.

[jenmito]

10. Sounds right...

and I agree.

[Cha]

13. Good point..but they

lost to President Obama whether they want to admit it or not.

Chris Matthews [e-mail]

[jenmito]

14. I love how

you end so many posts with an email address or phone number. :)

[Cha]

15. It's finally entered my psyche

after all these years..that they're the ones who need to hear all this awesome smack down. And, Frenchie, made it so easy for me to access~:hi:

[jenmito]

16. I hear ya...

and yes, Frenchie has that handy list of EVERYONE! :hi:

[sandyj999]

12. I Didn't Know it Was a Contest. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

17. Thank goodness......

..... I had actually wondered about that. Sad I know, but true.

And that's not to slight MJ .... but on the grand scheme of things, the Inauguration of Barack Obama was exponentially more historically important than the death of Michael.

Now ..... the 2004 DNC speech vs. Motown 25 .... THERE's a real contest! lol

[FrenchieCat]

18. The media ain't got shit else to do?

Isn't there some "opinion" they want to make ours or something? :shrug:

[AllentownJake]

19. The mere idea that Michael Jackson is being compared to President Obama

Makes me want to vomit.

The fact anyone wants to make an equivalency between a Harvard Trained Lawyer who put his life and his families life on the line to lead the Nation and a guy who sang and dance to make money for himself makes me throw up a little in my mouth.

Listen, I've been a critic sometimes of the President....but trying to compare these two men...:wtf:

[incapsulated]

23. Don't you know?

MJ made President Obama possible!

(according to some on DU)

[AllentownJake]

24. Yes, I read that

Made me want to throw-up as well.

[PBS Poll-435]

20. Fox News: Barack Obama. STILL the World's biggest celebrity

:hide:



:P

[incapsulated]

22. Thank Christ n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

25. Yeah right. What Barack Obama album sold 45 zillion copies ?2?2???2222??

Its not fair to Michael !!111!!1