Tuesday Ratings: ABC Leads the Broadcast Networks in the First Presidential Debate

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

What follows are the fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen for Tuesday, September 29. Note: These ratings are time period based (and are, therefore, only approximate) – particularly for a live event.

-Total Viewers:
ABC: 8.97 million, NBC: 7.05, CBS: 4.31, Fox: 3.19, CW: 643,000

-Adults 18-49:
ABC: 2.1 rating/10 share, NBC: 1.8/ 8, CBS and Fox: 0.9/ 4 each, CW: 0.1/ 1

—-

8:00 p.m.

ABC – 20/20 – Trump vs. Biden: The Main Event
Viewers: 5.96 million (#1), A18-49: 1.0/ 6 (#2)

CBS – Love Island
Viewers: 3.00 million (#3), A18-49: 0.7/ 4 (#2)

NBC – The Weakest Link (series premiere/return)
Viewers: 5.79 million (#2), A18-49: 1.1/ 6 (#1)

Fox – Cosmos: Possible Worlds
Viewers: 2.01 million (#4), A18-49: 0.4/ 2 (#4)

CW – Who’s Line is it Anyway? (R)
Viewers: 1.00 (#5), A18-49: 0.2/ 1 (#5)

—–

8:30 p.m.

ABC – 20/20 – Trump vs. Biden: The Main Event
Viewers: 6.23 million (#2), A18-49: 1.4/ 7 (#1t)

CBS – Love Island
Viewers: 2.67 million (#3), A18-49: 0.6/ 3 (#3)

NBC – The Weakest Link (series premiere/return)
Viewers: 6.34 million (#1), A18-49: 1.4/ 7 (#1t)

Fox – Cosmos: Possible Worlds
Viewers: 2.04 million (#4), A18-49: 0.5/ 2 (#4)

CW – Who’s Line is it Anyway? (R)
Viewers: 933,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.2/ 1 (#5)

——

9:00 p.m.

ABC – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 11.19 million (#1), A18-49: 2.7/12 (#1)

CBS – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 5.29 million (#3), A18-49: 1.1/ 5 (#4)

NBC – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 8.03 million (#2), A18-49: 2.1/ 9 (#2)

Fox – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 4.31 million (#4), A18-49: 1.2/ 5 (#3)

CW – Tell Me a Story (season finale)
Viewers: 357,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.1/ 0 (#5)

—–

9:30 p.m.

ABC – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 11.36 million (#1), A18-49: 2.9/12 (#1)

CBS – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 5.57 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/ 5 (#4)

NBC – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 8.03 million (#2), A18-49: 2.1/ 9 (#2)

Fox – First Democratic Debate
Viewers: 8.33 million (#2), A18-49: 2.3/10 (#2)

ABC – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 4.40 million (#4), A18-49: 1.3/ 6 (#3)

CW – Tell Me a Story (season finale)
Viewers: 278,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.1/ 0 (#5)

—–

10:00 p.m.

ABC – First Presidential Debate
Viewers: 10.55 million (#1), A18-49: 2.7/12 (#1)

CBS – First Democratic Debate
Viewers: 5.13 million (#3), A18-49: 1.1/ 5 (#3)

NBC – First Democratic Debate
Viewers: 7.73 million (#2), A18-49: 2.2/10 (#2)

—–

10:30 p.m.

ABC – First Presidential Debate / Analysis
Viewers: 8.00 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/10 (#1)

CBS – First Democratic Debate / Analysis
Viewers: 4.19 million (#3), A18-49: 0.9/ 4 (#3)

NBC – First Democratic Debate / Analysis
Viewers: 6.10 million (#2), A18-49: 1.6/ 8 (#2)

Source: Nielsen Media Research