Biden-Trump Debate Was Least Watched Since Kerry-Bush III in 2004

The debate on Thursday between Donald Trump and Joe Biden was the least-watched presidential debate since Kerry-Bush III in 2004. Across 17 networks, the debate averaged 51.27 million viewers on television.

By comparison, 73.1 million viewers watched the first debate between Biden and Trump in 2020. Trump-Clinton I in 2016 averaged a record 84 million viewers.

Voters could attribute the low viewership as proof there is fatigue and dissatisfaction with both candidates. That'd be true – partly. 

The network airing the debate in June is the primary reason for the lower-than-usual interest. While Thursday's debate dropped 30% from the first debate four years ago on Sep. 29, the number of people who watched any title on television last night was 24% lower than the night of the 2020 debate.

The summer months are the least watched months of television by substantial margins. Americans are traveling, kids are out of school, and it's usually warm across the country. 

Plus, the intrigue of a race increases the closer it is to election day. Whatever the level of interest is in an election, it's greater in September and October – when most debates are hosted – than in June, still more than four months out.

ATLANTA - President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024.  (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Fox Sports insights and analytics guru Michael Mulvihill points out how 66% of homes watching television last night watched the debate, a share only 8% lower than the comparable 2020 debate.

Granted, that 8% drop could foreshadow a decline in voter turnout. 

"It seems plausible that an -8 percent share decline might be predictive of somewhat lower turnout this Fall than in the record-setting 2020 election," Mulvihill said on X Friday.  "I would not take the larger -30 percent decline in viewership, mostly driven by TV use trends, to be predictive of anything."

We concur.

The drop in total television share for the debate is a symptom of a few factors. The 2024 race is unique in that the two candidates are the last two presidents to take office.  Voters largely know who both candidates are and who they are as president. 

Rarely do you find someone truly on the fence about Trump. Most likely, voters had their minds made up before the debate. 

Then again, maybe some planned Biden voters changed their minds after seeing him stumble, mumble, and crumble on stage.

In fact, Biden's already infamous showing along with the September date could propel the second debate to eclipse the ratings for the first, despite second debates historically drawing less interest.

Biden's camp said Friday he still plans to participate in the ABC News debate on Sept. 10. ABC has yet to announce the moderators of the second debate. 

We hope it's not George Stephanopoulos. And not just because he's a partisan hack deep in the pockets of the DNC. He also doesn't ask good questions and his screechy tone annoys us.

FOX News Media and FOX Network’s simulcast of the CNN presidential debate drew the largest audience in linear television, digital, and streaming on Thursday, averaging 13,421,000 viewers and 3,342,000 in A25-54.  

Here is the viewership breakdown by the network for Thursday's debate, per Nielsen Media Data. 

9-10:39PM/ET

FNC: 9,276,000 P2+, 1,769,000 A25-54

FBN: 397,000 P2+, 84,000 A25-54

FOX: 3,677,000 P2+, 1,489,000 A25-54

CNN: 9,530,000 P2+, 3,379,000 A25-54

MSNBC: 4,122,000 P2+,615,000 A25-54

ABC: 9,210,000 P2+, 2,431,000 A25-54

NBC: 5,390,000 P2+, 1,521,000 A25-54

CBS: 5,011,000 P2+, 1,388,000 A25-54