Fox News Presidential Debate Sets Ratings Record

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Viewers voted bigtime for Fox News’ Republican Presidential Primary Debate telecast, which drew a record 24 million total viewers.

The two-hour debate, which featured 10 Republican Presidential candidates as was moderated by Fox News journalists Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace, is the most watched, non-sports cable telecast of all time in total viewers, according to Fox.

The show’s 24 million viewers more than doubles the network’s previous high of 11.8 million total viewers generate during the 2012 Presidential Election, according to Fox.

ESPN’s Jan. 13 telecast of the Ohio State-Oregon College Football Playoff National Championship is the most watched cable show in the history of cable.

Fox News also drew 6.1 million viewers for its early Republican Presidential debate, making it the third-highest primary presidential debate ever for the network.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.