Libertarian town hall boosts CNN in key ratings race

CNN’s second-ever broadcast of a Libertarian town hall was the most-watched program in cable news Wednesday night among adults in the key 25-54 demographic.

The event, moderated by Anderson Cooper, ranked first among its cable news competitors, with 642,000 viewers in the demographic that advertisers value most. 

{mosads}Fox News was second, with 529,000 viewers in the demographic, but did beat CNN in total viewers, 2.18 million to 1.61 million, at that time.

The CNN town hall featured Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, a former Republican governor of New Mexico, and William Weld, a former Republican governor of Massachusetts.

Last night’s event saw a noticeable increase in viewers in both categories when compared to CNN’s first Libertarian town hall. The network increased its number in total viewers by 74 percent — 1.61 million vs. 929,000 — and 101 percent in the 25-54 demographic — 640,000 vs. 320,000. 

CNN will host its first Green Party town hall on Wednesday, Aug. 17 with presumptive presidential nominee Jill Stein and vice presidential nominee Ajamu Baraka.