MSNBC Democratic Debate Brings in Lowest Ratings to Date

[highplainsdem]

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/just-in-msnbc-democratic-debate-brings-in-lowest-ratings-to-date/

Chalk it up to presidential debate fatigue, broader political fatigue, or post-impeachment hearing fatigue, but Wednesday night’s Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by MSNBC earned the lowest ratings of the seven debates this year.

According to early Nielsen numbers, more than 6.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the November 20th debate in Atlanta, including 1.6 million in the advertiser coveted 25-54 demo. That’s a lot of viewers. But it’s a marked downturn from the 8.5 million viewers that CNN earned from the October 15th debate, with 2.4 million from the target 25-54 demo.

MSNBC caught some bad luck in the timing of Wednesday’s debate, as the dayside was filled with wall-to-wall coverage of perhaps the most compelling testimony in the ongoing House impeachment inquiry hearings. The morning session featured Ambassador Gordon Sondland, who’s bombshell opening testimony led to questioning that ran well into the afternoon.

-snip-

The most watch Democratic debate thus far? The second day of NBC’s two-day affair in June, the first debate, which drew a whopping 18 million overall viewers, from which more than 5 million were in the target demo.

[George II]

1. I think the moderators might have had something to do with this.

[rpannier]

5. Very possible

Likely a contributing factor
Though on different networks, I wouldn't watch anything, much less a debate with Wolf Blitzer or Howard Kurtz on the panel

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Overload.

Endless campaign cycles have worn me down, too.

[jcmaine72]

23. This

It's easy to forget how much of a grind this process is once it's over. I remember feeling the same way in 2008 & 2016.

[rpannier]

3. I think the impeachment lowered interest

I think many people feel there are too many people on stage right now
It's nearing holiday season, so I think people are pre-occupied with other things
There are probably other priorities
And, let's be honest, 'Do you really need to see every debate to make decisions?'

[George II]

7. That too - we just got finished watching about 12 hours of the hearing, and...

it almost overlapped the debate. Quite honestly, I didn't watch a minute of it.

[rzemanfl]

15. After the hearing I had no intention of watching the debate. Exhausted. n/t

[CTyankee]

34. I went to bed early. I was unable to keep my eyes open past 8 pm.

[PatSeg]

4. I almost didn't watch

I was exhausted after watching so many impeachment hearings. I think everyone is on overload.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. By Eight o'clock I'd had enough politics for the day.

[elleng]

8. Chalk it up to impeachment proceeding.

[MontanaMama]

9. I was too tired to take it all in last night.

The day’s testimony was exhausting. I wonder if viewership will continue to dwindle until we have a Dem nominee that can wipe the floor with the MF on the debate stage.

[SMC22307]

10. Too many candidates dragged out over too long a period of time...

the process is ridiculous. Impeachment hearings. Holidays approaching.

[Cha]

11. KR!

[ritapria]

12. It's not much of a debate

when the leading candidates get between 10 and 12 minutes time to speak..... The December debate could be another 9 or ten candidate affair ……….Yep , we might get another dose of Tulsi and Steyer - yet again …. A . DU member said the rules might be changed to let Bloomberg join the December debate …...I can't confirm that .. The more is not the merrier ….. Future debates should confined to the top 6 candidates in national polling ..

[SaschaHM]

13. Debate fatigue during a clown car primary.

I'm not advocating for throwing people off the stage, but if you're going to ask certain candidates about their plans and how they're going to pay for them, and give others basically yes or no hypothetical questions, maybe you need to figure out a different format.

No talk about Buttigieg's Douglas plan when he's the frontrunner, but Harris/Klobuchar are ask to explain how they're going to pay for their paid family leave plans? Multiple candidates raising their hands to be allowed to debate or to speak on a subject. I like the moderators, but that was basically an infomercial for certain candidates and an exam for others. There was little to no debate except for when the moderators wanted fights. Hell, I forgot that Yang was even there at times.

It got the ratings it deserved.

[NurseJackie]

14. Too many candidates. It's a pageant, not a debate.

It'll be better when we're down to three of four.

[redqueen]

16. Ha, not surprising.

MSNBC is awful.

Worst questions, most unfair - just a joke all around.

[Raine]

24. Yes, absolutely and

seems like most of the questions went to the same 3-4 candidates and the others hardly got any time at all. Also no decent follow ups, it debate was boring, so viewers probably tuned out in droves.

[C_U_L8R]

17. They've got to narrow the field.

Otherwise it's the same debate again and again

[Thekaspervote]

18. Or maybe voters have made up their minds... just my opinion

[Demsrule86]

35. I was thinking the same thing...I watched because I am a political junkie but I fast forwarded

through some candidates. I really wasn't interested...I did listen to the closing statements and Joe's was by far the best IMHO.

[madville]

19. People are making up their minds

Really, what else could one possibly learn about the candidates at this point to make them suddenly switch?

[CousinIT]

20. Immediately after an entire day of blistering impeachment testimony...

...Is anyone really surprised?

[rownesheck]

21. Who is watching the debates?

I haven't watched one because I know who I like, but will vote for whomever the nominee is. trump is such a bastard ass that I don't care who our nominee is. I feel that most people think as I do. Why would I waste my time watching a debate when I've got xbox nhl '19 to play? I feel sorry for anyone who is still trying to make up their mind. I would vote for a maggot infested pile of rotten apples over donald. This election cycle, the debates are useless.

[Demsrule86]

36. I agree with you.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. I'm no sootsayer, but I predicted that. People know who they support, and these "debates"....

aren't really designed to change anyone's mind. Activists and political junkies are who follow this stuff no matter what. The average Joe/Jane, myself included, couldn't give a hoot about watching moderators try and instigate fights between the candidates, and then afterwards watching the "analysts/prognosticators/pundits" push the candidates they like & shred the ones they don't. Who needs it?

[dansolo]

25. I stopped watching after 15 minutes

I figured it was pointless when not a single candidate would answer the question posed to them. Every answer was just a random talking point that had no connection to the question asked.

[no_hypocrisy]

26. Conceded they aren't Trump rallies.

But they do provide necessary information for primary voters.

[brooklynite]

27. ...if Primary voters choose to watch them.

[snowybirdie]

28. I'm intensely political

but I didn't watch. These debates provide no real information or insight. Too many candidates chasing the next soundbite. The field has got to be winnowed down. Fringe candidates need to be realistic as to their chances. 2020 and primaries are only six weeks away.

[Sloumeau]

29. First of all, I think the day's impeachment hearings on at least six channels wore people out.

Second of all, I think there are still too many candidates on the stage. Tulsi Gabbard is a complete waste of time and space on stage. Let her attack Democrats somewhere else. In addition, almost no one is going to vote for Tom Steyer. Many suspected that his "Need To Impeach" was just a way to get himself on TV in order to launch a political campaign later on, and that is exactly what happened. Former coal mine loving Steyer will get little traction in the Democratic Party.

Because there were so many people on stage, many candidates were cut off just when they were really getting going. The remaining 8 candidates all have at least some argument to be there. We have six candidates who are or were U.S. Senators in Warren, Sanders, Harris, Booker, Klobuchar, and Biden, who was also VP. Buttigieg may have only been a mayor, but he answers questions better than almost any candidate I have ever seen. Yang doesn't have a lot of political experience, but he is truly bright and very hardworking. In addition it seems like Yang has studied pretty much every issue thoroughly, and he has some very interesting ideas. I am hoping that the next debate will find a way to Jettison both Gabbard and Steyer. They have no chance and are an unneeded distraction. The same goes for Bloomberg and Deval Patrick. We do not need yet another Billionaire--especially one who loves Stop and Frisk. Finally, I would vote for Cory Booker 1000 times before I'd vote for Deval Patrick, and I'd vote for Harris I'd vote for 10,000 times before Patrick.

[Wayoff]

30. I confess that I have not watched one debate.

I does not matter to me. We could nominate a hard boiled egg and I will vote for it, and do everything I can to help get it elected.

[SWBTATTReg]

31. I call it debate fatigue. We're tired of it, and we haven't even gotten to 2020 yet.

There's a serious danger here, of wearing people out.

[evertonfc]

32. Boring as hell

Hell, no one is watching the hearings either. To many candidates, its to early and our front runners have been around since the dinosaurs walked the earth. Not that exciting of a bunch sadly.

[FloridaBlues]

33. Too many debates. Same questions same answers.