15.3M tune in to NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo combined for first debate

A total of 15.3 million combined viewers tuned into NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo for the first Democratic primary debate of the 2020 election on Wednesday night, matching the number of viewers who tuned into the first Democratic debate of the 2015-2016 primary season on CNN in October 2015. 

The 15.3 million is higher than every primary debate during the 2008 and 2012 election cycles, according to Nielsen data. 

{mosads}The most-watched primary debate in history occurred in August 2015, when more than 24 million people tuned in to Fox News for the event featuring Donald Trump’s first debate as a candidate in Cleveland. 

In the key 25-54 demographic that advertisers covet most, 4.3 million tuned in across NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday night. 

The Democratic debate was moderated by “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt, “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd, Rachel Maddow of “The Rachel Maddow Show,” and “Noticias Telemundo” and “NBC Nightly News” Saturday anchor José Díaz-Balart. 

The second night of the Democratic debates is slated for Thursday. 

It will feature former Vice President Joe Biden and nine other candidates including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).