The Presidential Debates of 2020 garnered an unprecedented number of viewers, a testimony and magnifying lens into both the increased political engagement and the polarizing stakes of the most recent election. According to CNN, an estimated 47.9 million viewers tuned in to watch the second face-off between President Donald Trump and the then-presidential nominee, Joe Biden, across all platforms and networks.
The numbers revealed by CNN are extraordinary and are indicative of the increased enthusiasm of people to involve themselves in the political life of the nation. Debates have long been seen as a pivotal component of electoral politics and have traditionally served a dual purpose: articulating policy differences between candidates and showcasing each candidate’s demeanor and personality.
However, the latest data does not exist in a vacuum and must be viewed in comparison to the 2016 presidential debates between Trump and Hillary Clinton. The first 2016 debate attracted a considerable audience of 84 million viewers, setting a record and underscoring the heightened interest in a tumultuous and unpredictable election year. While the number of viewers for the second 2020 debate does not reach that dramatic figure, it’s worth indicating that this number doesn’t account for the myriad ways viewers now consume content beyond traditional broadcast television, including live-streaming and social media platforms.
The debates of 2020 were certainly notable for several reasons – from schedule changes, to new pandemic-induced formats, and an entire debate cancellation. The first debate of the series, held in Cleveland, Ohio, was marked by its chaotic interactions, interruptions and heated exchanges. This was shortly followed by the announcement of President Trump testing positive for COVID-19, which led to the cancellation of the second debate. Finally, the third debate, deemed the second due to cancellation, where the 47.9 million viewer statistics stem, featured a new muting method allowing each candidate two uninterrupted minutes to respond to each segment’s primary question.
This Presidential debate, and the viewership it gained, also had a key hand in strengthening the role of cable news networks. The data from CNN shows that among all the networks, Fox News attracted the most viewers, with approximately 15.4 million people tuning in. This was followed by ABC with 11.2 million, NBC with 10.6 million, MSNBC with 6.9 million, and CNN with 5.5 million.
Moreover, the fundamental shift in how presidential debates are conducted, particularly in the midst of a pandemic, could also play a pivotal role in understanding the viewership numbers. The virtual town hall format, the social distancing practices, and the remote video links, are some of the significant changes noticed in this political season.
The figure of 47.9 million viewers, thus, represents more than just the number of people who tuned in to watch the candidates spar on their television screens. It’s a reflection of the era we’re living in, in which contentious politics, technological changes, and global health crises are inextricably intertwined.