47.9 million viewers tuned in to last night’s presidential debate, marking the most-watched non-sporting event of the year. However, this number is significantly lower compared to previous years. In 2016, a record-breaking 84 million viewers watched the debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Additionally, in past elections, the first debate between Biden and Trump drew 73 million viewers.
Although CNN hosted the debate, Fox News had the largest television audience of 8.8 million viewers, with CNN and ABC News close behind at 8.7 million each. The event also garnered over 30 million views on CNN’s platforms and YouTube. Despite these impressive numbers, some experts attribute the declining viewership to political fatigue and disinterest in politics among Americans. Journalist Brian Stelter and senior political columnist Jonathan Martin on Twitter stated that this disinterest could be due to political fatigue.
Amidst the reactions to Biden’s performance, the relatively low viewership numbers could be seen as a relief. This decline in viewership may suggest a decrease in voter turnout and engagement in the upcoming election. Nevertheless, it is important for candidates and political parties to continue engaging with voters through various channels to ensure that they are informed and engaged enough to participate in future elections.
