Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) garnered 28.9 million viewers, surpassing former President Donald Trump’s viewership at the Republican National Convention (RNC) by 500,000. The DNC outperformed the RNC in overall viewership, reflecting significant public interest.
Harris’ Speech Captivates Millions
Vice President Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech at the DNC on Thursday attracted 28.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings. This figure represents approximately 500,000 more viewers than those who watched former President Donald Trump’s speech at the RNC. The DNC’s fourth night also saw 26 million viewers, including 6.7 million in the key 18-54 demographic.
DNC Outpaces RNC in Viewership
The DNC, which featured notable celebrities and prominent Democratic figures, averaged 21.8 million viewers across its four nights, significantly outpacing the RNC’s average of 18.9 million viewers. The convention’s strong performance highlights the public’s interest in the Democratic platform, as evidenced by the viewership numbers.
Comparative Analysis with Previous Conventions
This year’s DNC had 200,000 more viewers on average compared to 2020, though it fell short by 8.2 million viewers when compared to 2016, when Hillary Clinton made history as the first woman to accept a major party’s presidential nomination. Despite the decrease compared to 2016, the 2024 DNC still managed to engage a significant audience.
Media Networks’ Viewership Breakdown
MSNBC emerged as a major beneficiary of the DNC viewership, recording over 6.5 million viewers during the key hours on Thursday and 7.2 million viewers during Harris’ speech—its highest-ever viewership for a DNC. CNN also attracted over 3.9 million viewers during the convention’s final night. By comparison, Fox News led in viewership during the RNC, particularly during Trump’s acceptance speech.
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