Pence-Harris Debate Draws 58 Million Viewers, Leap From 2016

(Bloomberg) -- The vice-presidential debate between incumbent Mike Pence and challenger Kamala Harris drew an audience of 57.9 million viewers, the strongest showing in a dozen years.

The results topped the 37.2 million people who tuned in to watch Tim Kaine debate Pence four years ago, according to Nielsen data released Thursday. The total was the most since 69.9 million saw Joe Biden debate Sarah Palin in 2008.

Fox Corp.’s namesake news channel led with 11.5 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen data released by AT&T Inc.’s CNN. Walt Disney Co.’s ABC came in second with 9.41 million.

While traditional TV viewing is shrinking in an age of on-demand streaming services, big events continue to draw. News channels in particular have been seeing a surge in ratings, with the public fixated on not just the election but the ongoing pandemic and its fallout.

The debate was the first since President Donald Trump and many members of his inner circle were diagnosed with Covid-19. The vice-presidential candidates faced off from behind plexiglass shields on stage.

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