The Democratic convention received a Kamala Harris bull on its third night, with 22.8 million viewers tuning in to major TV networks to watch the Vice Presidential candidate deliver her acceptance speech.
The audience was the largest to date, above the 19.7 million viewers who watched Monday, according to data from 10 networks released by the TV measurement company Nielsen. The convention concludes Thursday night with an acceptance speech by Presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Kamala Harris’s Home Run
The nominated vice presidency helped boost viewers for convention
Source: Nielsen
Harris, who is black and Native American, is the first non-white woman to receive the nomination of a major party. She gave an address that some reviewers said began to be slow, but eventually delivered with a strong line on female empowerment that also raised concerns about her role as a lawyer.
“I know a predator when I see one,” Harris said.
Although the numbers have increased, it generally attracts fewer TV viewers than four years ago, when 24.4 million people tuned in for the third night, according to Nielsen data.
Traditional networks have seen a decline in viewers as Americans shift to more online options. This year’s convention has also had to do with coronavirus restrictions. It is held online, without exciting delegates cheering from the floor of a large arena. That limits the enthusiasm around the event.
Read more: Harris takes historic role as Biden’s no. 2 with call for change
Wednesday night’s program also included speeches by former President Barack Obama and the 2016 Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. Obama delivered a strong rebellion from President Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump has not grown to the job because he can not,” Obama said. “The consequences of that failure are dire.”
MSNBC from Comcast Corp. led all the networks again, with just under 6.5 million viewers for the coverage that began at 10 a.m. New York time. AT&T Inc.’s CNN came in second with 5.8 million, although it was among leaders aged 25-54.
(Updates viewer total in header, first paragraph and in chart.)
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