Harris’s Convention Speech Draws 29 Million Viewers, Edges Out Trump’s Numbers
Kamala Harris’s convention speech garnered significant attention, attracting 29 million TV viewers and narrowly surpassing former President Donald Trump’s viewership. Overall TV ratings for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago outpaced those of the Republican event last month by 14 percent.
The surge in viewership for Harris’s speech was likely fueled by curiosity about the newly-minted vice-presidential candidate and high-profile appearances by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling, and Kerry Washington. Speculation about a potential Beyoncé appearance, while unfounded, may have also contributed to the buzz.
Across the four-day Democratic convention, Harris’s speech averaged 28.9 million viewers, while Trump’s address in July drew 28.4 million at its peak, eventually declining as his lengthy speech continued. The final night of each convention saw closely matched numbers, with 26.2 million watching Harris and 25.4 million tuning in for Trump’s speech, reflecting a narrow 3 percent difference.
The Nielsen ratings provide a snapshot of traditional TV viewership but do not account for online streaming audiences. The Democrats leveraged social media and influencers to reach viewers beyond traditional TV, particularly appealing to younger and tech-savvy voters.
This year’s ratings also highlighted the growing polarization in TV news. Fox News dominated during the Republican convention, while MSNBC led in Democratic convention viewership, surpassing all major networks including ABC, CBS, and NBC. This marked MSNBC’s largest audience for a Democratic convention since its inception in 1996, despite the decline in cable subscriptions.
CNN, struggling with ratings overall, excelled in attracting viewers aged 25 to 54 during the Democratic convention, edging out MSNBC in this key demographic. CNN’s coverage played a pivotal role in the year’s political landscape, notably setting the stage for Harris’s prominent speech.