Sarah Palin scores huge viewership at RNC

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's highly anticipated speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night nearly matched the record-setting numbers of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Palin pulled in 37.2 million viewers across broadcast and cable networks, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That's 55% higher than Day 3 of the DNC, when her Democratic counterpart, Joe Biden, and President Clinton took the stage (24 million).

It's also up a sharp 99% from the Republican convention's third day in 2004 (18.7 million) and easily bests the numbers viewers attracted by George W. Bush when he accepted the nomination (27.6 million). In fact, it came close to upsetting Obama's historic address last Thursday -- the most-watched convention speech in history (38.4 million viewers).

Palin's viewership is up 73% from Tuesday's RNC tally, when 21.5 million tuned in to see President Bush and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman endorse nominee John McCain. The event also drew more female viewers than Hillary Clinton's speech last week.

Palin has been beset by controversy since McCain shocked Beltway insiders by appointing the relatively little-known governor as his vice presidential pick. Her Wednesday night speech was presented as an opportunity to address her skeptics.

Reaction to Palin's speech was very positive: "Sarah Palin's perfect premiere" ... "connects with people in a way few politicians can" ... "Palin was stunning" ... "Palin sets high bar for McCain" ... as some have noted,  the AP says some lines in the speech didn't pass their fact check. Here's the speech and video.

UPDATE: Cable news network estimates show Fox News is out in front with 9.2 million viewers (from 10 to 11:15 p.m.), followed by CNN with 6.2 million and MSNBC with 3.4 million. Note CNN won last week when the Democrats were on stage, and Fox News has been taking the lead now that the Republicans are having their turn. CNN and Fox News also bested the broadcasters in the adult demo. From 10 to 11 p.m., NBC had 7.7 million, CBS had 4.9 million and ABC had 5.9 million.

This was the third-highest telecast ever in the history of Fox News (only other two that were higher was a Bush address re: Iraq in '03 and a debate in '04).

Also, PBS just chimed in to say 3.2 million watched on their network, which brings Palin's total viewership on ad-supported and public airwaves to more than 40 million. (Getting questions about this, PBS isn't ad supported and isn't counted by Nielsen in the same way, so one normally tries to avoid mixing the two).

Read all of THR's convention coverage

Comments

is there a count of Ineternet viewers? i watched it over broadband !

[Sharon]

How many of those viewers were as disgusted by her sarcasm as I was?

[Russ]

I call bullshit! I want to see links and proof. Personally I think you are pulling that # out of your ass.

Same here! I watched it online too.

[trevelynzx]

unbelievable. this woman crushed the lunatic left last ngiht, and they're running scared. the best they can come up with is a pregnant daughter and the supposed flip-flop over the "bridge to nowhere" project. GET A GRIP LIBERAL NEWS MEDIA. check the ratings - everybody's watching Fox because we're SICK of your crappy journalism.

GO MCCAIN!!!! Sure to be hailed as one of history's most brilliant political minds for this maneuver. GO PALIN!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU ALASKA!!!!

[leah mcknight]

I thought that Palin's speech was great. She handled herself well and I think that she would make a great choice for VP. As far as McCain, he could lead the country well it would be very scary for Obama to lead us. If the election were today my vote would go for McCain hands down. GO PALIN/McCain. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!

[Chris]

I thing the AP needs to fact check their own Fact Check.

[Joe]

I thoroughly enjoyed the sarcasm as well as the rest of the presentation by the next Vice President of the United States.

[Gothmog]

I wasnt digusted at all. She rocks!

"Sarcasm is the highest form of humor" (Swift, if i remember right).

[Marisol Higgins]

I watched. It scared me. Everyone saying how great it was. I thought it was mean, sarcastic ...just plain ugly and it did the GOP a great disservice. Glad my children did not stay up to watch that. Usually try to get them to watch both sides expect to see some jabs but that was red meat to the lion kind of thing. Way over the top for me.

[Ron]

How many were disgusted by her sarcasm, Sharon? Including you, there was 1.

[Observer 2.0]

Sorry Sharon,

The rest of us thought it was funny. I particularly liked Huckabee - "Barack Obama's Fabulous Adventure to Europe."

[Bindi]

I didn't watch, so much as flip back and forth. X Men 3 was on! Couldn't take her voice. She reminded me of Dolores Umbridge. And after watching, I'm happy I'm voting for Obama. Stay in Alaska sweetie.

[Roger]

It was one of the most important speeches of my life. I was so proud of Palin. The Dems are officially done.

[C]

I was disturbed by the speech and the 'Hot Chick' buttons. How low can we go?

[ck]

As a homeschooling working mother of one son, I was for Hillary. Now, I am for John McCain/Sarah Palin and will also do what I can to help get them elected. The truth hurts and she brought up all the wondering I had about Obama and answered those questions. Some people are so hungry for change, they will throw anything in the wind to see if it will fly. No Way, No How, No Obama in 2008

[CC]

Yes Russ, they pulled that number out of their ass just to make you angry.

[Alex]

"I call bullshit! I want to see links and proof. Personally I think you are pulling that # out of your ass."
-------
Go to Neilson retard.

[David]

American's are serious about the choice this year... that a woman for VP gets almost as much viewership as an african-american gets for his Prez speach shouldn't be surprising. The surprising part is the anger she has generated from the left.

[Cory]

Palin rocks! So Obama and her are now 1 and 1. She has almost as many viewers as him and he has almost as much experience as her. LOL

[Gia]

of course some people watched! We dont know who the hell she is!? And she's a potential VP!

[ed]

Wonder Woman for Veep! America loves strength--not the dialectic process!

[NYC woman]

Not even a fraction of the sarcasm & hate the Democrats spewed last week!
I guess only the left(according to lefties) have the right to say their opinion, or defend themselves

[Jose]

Great job Sarah! We in Canada have many hockey moms who help make the backbone of this country.

Regardless of the stark negativism of Obamacons, your message of hope and family and steadfastness despite adversity is a real inspiration.

Here's hoping that we'll have a good friend and neighbour in the White House next year!

[Chad]

Awesome speech! The left is scrambling to figure out what the hell just hit their campaign! "Sarcasm," Sharon get used to it, you will have 4 years of it!!!!!! McCain-Palin '08 all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave!

[Liliana C.]

We watched it on our computer too. Be sure to count us!

[Steve]

Based on the office chatter today, I think nearly 100% of people watched it. I must say the reaction was EXTREMELY positive and enthusiastic. It was refreshing having a Governor speak, since they have made executive decisions.

People were joking about "the fad" that was Obama. He has been in decline since mid-February. Great lines include the change/careers side, jobs via energy development, Obama wrote two memoirs but no major legislation, Obama never challenged/reformed the Chicago Daley maching(rather he leveraged the corruption to advance his career.

[Jolly]

let's see, she spoke in sound-bites and her nose kept twitching, rhymes with "witch". which rock did rove drag her out of?

[Matt]

Umm, make that two.

[DCM]

If you actually read the AP's "fact check", its allegations of false facts is pretty thin and does not appear to prove that any of the alleged "lies" are "lies", though it puts a different spin on some facts and their related innuendo.

[Tom]

Disgusted? Hardly. That was called humor and she didn't flinch from those crazy lefty attacks. Dems better be worried. Seems if you have lefty views you can be sexist and attack a 17 year old girl for not "choosing" to kill a baby. If not, you better watch out. That pit bull with lipstick may bite you in an unpleasant place.

[lnkoine]

so did I, Fox and UStream. Great speech!

[Abigail Izz]

Oh yes, those "hot" buttons were just so sexist, weren't they?

WATCH!

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=184086

[Jim]

Of course more people watched Palin's speech. Sen. Biden is a known commodity. Gov. Palin is a mystery. More people watched because, in my opinion, they knew nothing about her and needed to see what she's all about. Being attractive and young couldn't have hurt either.

[mike]

Good! That must mean the GOP is toast since she was a disgrace. I couldn't have been more disappointed. Not one solution to anything! The entire speech, not a single solution to any problem the country faces! Just lies and school yard taunts, reminds me of W

[Marisol Higgins]

I watched. It scared me. Everyone saying how great it was. I thought it was mean, sarcastic ...just plain ugly and it did the GOP a great disservice. Glad my children did not stay up to watch that. Usually try to get them to watch both sides expect to see some jabs but that was red meat to the lion kind of thing. Way over my head for me.

[joe]

I am so sick and tired of the media telling America what to think, what their opinion is and so on.

Let's keep it simple - Don't tell us it's cold outside, just tell me the temperature and let me decide if I need a coat!!!!

[trevelynzx]

"let's see, she spoke in sound-bites and her nose kept twitching, rhymes with "witch". which rock did rove drag her out of?"

-- typical. can't argue anything substantive, so you resort to the least intelligent option: insults. and they don't even make sense!! you'd be a successful CNN commentator...

[ian twolan]

Her sarcasm is refreshing and vital because the media won't challenge anything the two democrat empty suits say. You want change? Vote for McCain/Palin. You want dishonest, sleazy, do nothing politicians - vote for the empty suits.

[Pete]

Hey Sharon,

Why were you disguted?
Disgusted of the truth about Obama?