More Americans tuned to NBC News and MSNBC combined for coverage of the first presidential debate than any other broadcast or cable television network. According to Nielsen Media Research fast national data, the two networks drew a combined total of 23.1 million total viewers. NBC led the broadcast and cable networks across the board for the first 2016 presidential debate and achieved its highest total audience and A25-54 demo deliveries in a first general election presidential debate since 1992.
The
NBC News broadcast network coverage (9-10:39 pm ET) averaged 18.2 million total viewers, outperforming
ABC by 4.6 million (+34%) and
CBS by 6.1 million (+50%). Among A25-54 viewers,
NBC News averaged 8.3 million viewers, leading
ABC by 3.5 million (+73%) and
CBS by 3.6 million (+75%). In A18-49,
NBC averaged 7.5 million, topping
ABC by 3.1 million (+72%) and
CBS by 3.6 million (+91%). MSNBC's coverage of the debate (9-10:39pm ET) averaged 4.9 million total viewers, 1.58 million A25-54 viewers and 1.4 million A18-49 viewers.
Earlier on Monday, "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt" averaged 8.4 million total viewers, outperforming
ABC by 1 million and
CBS by 1.7 million. "TODAY" averaged 4.3 million total viewers, outperforming
ABC by 203,000 and
CBS by 789,000.
"NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt moderated the first presidential debate. Savannah Guthrie and Chuck Todd anchored
NBC News' primetime coverage, joined by Tom Brokaw, and others. Rachel Maddow and Brian Williams anchored MSNBC's coverage, joined by Chris Matthews and the full team of
NBC News and
MSNBC correspondents and contributors.
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