Biden beats Trump again! Nearly 40million people watched the inauguration ceremony across the six major news outlets – more than a million more than swicthed on for the 2017 event
- Roughly 40 million watched live coverage of Democrat Biden’s inauguration
- Marks a 4% increase over the number that tuned in for Trump’s swearing-in
- Biden, Obama’s vice president, became the 46th U.S. president on Wednesday
- Ceremony included performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez & Garth Brooks
More people tuned in to watch Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday than former President Trump’s ceremony in 2017, according to new data revealed by Nielsen.
Roughly 40 million people watched live coverage of Democrat Biden’s inauguration as US president on six TV networks, according to the data released on Thursday, a 4% increase over the number that tuned in for Donald Trump’s swearing-in four years ago.
The figure covers the 30-minute span starting at 11:45 am EST on Wednesday, when Biden took the oath of office and delivered his inaugural address from the U.S. Capitol.
More people tuned in to watch Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday than former President Trump’s ceremony in 2017, according to new data revealed by Nielsen
In 2017, about 38.3 million people watched Republican Trump’s inauguration and speech
It includes the audience on broadcasters ABC, CBS and NBC and cable channels Fox News, CNN and MSNBC.
In 2017, about 38.3 million people watched Republican Trump’s inauguration and speech on those networks.
The swearing-in of Democrat Barack Obama in 2009 as the first Black U.S. president drew 51.2 million viewers.
Biden, Obama’s vice president, became the 46th U.S. president on Wednesday in a ceremony that included performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks.
Kamala Harris made history as she became the first Black person, first woman and first Asian American to serve as vice president.
President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden watch a military pass in review ceremony on the East Front of the Capitol at the conclusion of the inauguration ceremonies
President Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speak to Lady Gaga during the inauguration
The TV viewing figures do not capture people who tuned in via digital platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube that streamed the event live, or others who watched on television at places outside of their homes such as bars and restaurants.
Updated figures are expected in the coming days.
CNN, owned by AT&T Inc, led all networks with nearly 10 million viewers of Biden’s ceremony. Walt Disney Co’s ABC finished second. Fox Corp’s Fox News Channel ranked last among the six major networks with 2.8 million viewers.
President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington
The ranking reflected a reversal from four years ago.
Fox News, which is popular with conservative viewers, topped all networks for Trump’s swearing-in with 11.8 million viewers, an Inauguration Day record for a single network. CNN ranked fifth at the time with 3.4 million.
CNN, which has been on a hot streak in the ratings since Biden’s victory, also topped all the others for its coverage of the primetime inaugural celebration.
ABC had 7.66 million viewers for the oath-taking (up 10% from 2017), NBC had 6.89 million (down 12%) and CBS had 6.07 million (down 13%), Nielsen said.