NewsNationâs GOP debate in Alabama watched by 4.1 million viewers
Upstart cable TV network NewsNation is praising the number of viewers who tuned in Wednesday for the fourth Republican presidential primary debate at the University of Alabama, even if the TV audience was the lowest among the four primary debates this year.
The 4.1 million is the combined viewers on NewsNation and the CW, both owned by Dallas-based Nexstar. NewsNation garnered its largest audience in hits history with nearly 1.6 million viewers across the U.S., while the CW’s debate simulcast delivered more than 2.5 million viewers.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 2.5 million viewers on the CW was the largest same-day audience for the network in nearly six years — since an episode of “The Flash” in January 2018.
Republican presidential candidates businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, left, talks to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a commercial break during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by NewsNation on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at the Moody Music Hall at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP
“NewsNation was incredibly honored to host last night’s debate and we are very pleased that so many viewers tuned in and watched,” said Sean Compton, president of Networks for Nexstar Media, in a news release. “This debate represents a remarkable achievement for a cable news network that is just barely three years old. We’re very proud of the NewsNation team, the great job done by the moderators and the overall production.”
The moderators were SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly, Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson, and NewsNation host Elizabeth Vargas.
Preliminary digital results indicate that nearly 400,000 users livestreamed some portion of the debate via NewsNation’s website or mobile app, with the app reaching record numbers.
Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaking during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by NewsNation on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at the Moody Music Hall at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP
The debate was the lowest rated during the primary season this year. Last month’s third presidential primary debate in Miami drew 7.5 million viewers, and that was a 21% decline from the second GOP debate in September. The first debate in Milwaukee drew 12.8 million viewers to Fox News and Fox Business.
The audience totals this year remain far from the record 24 million viewers who tuned in to Fox News for the opening Republican debate in the 2016 election cycle. That was the first time President Donald Trump was on a debate stage. Trump has declined to participate in any of the debates this year, acknowledging his strong lead in polling.