The first night of the Republican National Convention is up from the last two conventions in terms of total viewers (22.5 million viewers 2+ live+same day in the 10 pm ET hour on the three broadcast networks and three cable networks, up 2 million from 2012 and up 3.6 million from 2008). With the key news sales demographic of adults 25-54, 2016 is right in between 2008 and 2012.
Fox News Channel (aka GOP TV) beat the other networks handily, with margins of victory very similar to 2012. Although down from 2012, NBC managed to eke out a victory with 25-54 year-olds, just as it did in 2012. The big gainer was CNN, which rebounded from a very low 2012 performance and got back in the game, rising to 2nd place with 2+ and a competitive 3rd place with 25-54. ABC was up somewhat from 2012 in both 2+ and 25-54 but now trails CNN. MSNBC also managed a slight increase from 2012 but it remains dead last. However, the real loser is CBS, which is on track for the “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” award, in free-fall since 2008 and heading down toward MSNBC territory.
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