The revitalized Democratic campaign achieves superior ratings in the convention showdown versus the Republicans
Eyeballs drawn to the four-day extravaganza in Chicago hit an average of 21.8 million spectators, as per Nielsen statistics, overshadowing the audience of the Republican National Convention by approximately 15%.
On the last evening of the event, Harris' speech was viewed by 28.9 million individuals, barely edging out Trump's address in Milwaukee, which drew a viewership of 28.4 million across 15 television stations. Trump's nearly 90-minute address, becoming the longest convention acceptance speech in recent history, had taken place just after an attempt on his life.
Harris' viewership triumph became a blow for Trump, who is notoriously fixated on television ratings and the magnitude of his crowds. During Harris' delivery, Trump tuned in, tweeting live reactions on his Truth Social account before sharing his verbose rebuttal on Fox News.
Thursday night was a triumph for MSNBC, garnering 6.5 million viewers, marking the highest viewership the DNC has ever seen on the network's nearly 30-year existence. The jump in viewership was also noticed at ABC with 4.2 million viewers and CNN with 3.9 million. Despite typically outperforming cable news networks in the ratings, Fox News slid to fifth place on Thursday night.
While many more tuned into the conventions via digital platforms, viewership numbers for streaming services like YouTube or Twitch, and public access channels, such as C-SPAN, are not included in Nielsen's statistics.
Harris' popularity and powerful speeches from figures such as former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as appearances by celebrities like Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Pink, Kerry Washington, and Mindy Kaling, contributed to the high viewership.
The DNC transformed traditionally dull moments into impressive productions, such as an energetic reinterpretation of the ceremonial roll call, featuring music from each state, and a surprise appearance by rapper Lil Jon.
Last month's Republican convention in Milwaukee took place shortly after the assassination attempt on Trump. Although it lacked speeches from former presidents, celebrities such as Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock made notable appearances. The RNC took place at a time when President Joe Biden was still the Democratic nominee and the party was in disarray following Biden's poor performance at CNN's June debate. Under the mounting pressure, Biden suspended his campaign shortly after the Republican convention.
The Democratic convention's viewership was likely boosted by widespread speculation about a surprise appearance by music superstar Beyoncé. The singer had given the Harris campaign permission to use her 2016 hit "Freedom," which played as Harris took the stage.
Rumors about Beyoncé's potential appearance swirled on social media in the lead up to Harris' address, making their way to notable media figures and television personalities. CNN reported that Beyoncé would indeed make an appearance. However, Beyoncé's publicist later debunked those reports, telling The Hollywood Reporter that Beyoncé would not be present.
Campaign and convention officials had never confirmed Beyoncé's appearance, with CNN reporting that TMZ had not contacted them for comment before publishing their story.
Despite Beyoncé's representative denying her attendance, several individuals close to the convention planning team believed she would be present. The Beyoncé speculation, along with rumors about Taylor Swift, had persisted for weeks before the convention, but was never officially debunked by the Harris campaign or Beyoncé's team until the last minute.
The high viewership during the Democratic National Convention was a significant win for media outlets, with MSNBC, ABC, and CNN experiencing increases in their audiences. This surge in interest can be attributed to the compelling speeches delivered by political figures and celebrities, such as Harris and Beyoncé, generating buzz in the business of media.
The media frenzy surrounding potential celebrity appearances, like Beyoncé, significantly contributed to the overall viewership of the Democratic National Convention, demonstrating the potent influence of entertainment on business trends.
