Democratic Convention Topped Olympics in Viewers, Nielsen Says

By Jonathan D. Salant and Michael White

Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The just-concluded Democratic National Convention
in Denver was the most-watched since at least 1960 and drew more viewers
than the Summer Olympics, according to figures released by the Nielsen Co.

The quadrennial gathering was seen in 27.7 million homes, breaking the
record of 21.9 million who tuned in to the 1976 Republican convention,
when President Gerald Ford won the nomination over Ronald Reagan; and
the 20.7 million who watched the 1980 Democratic convention when
President Jimmy Carter beat back a challenge by Senator Edward Kennedy.
The figures are the highest since New York-based Nielsen began keeping
track in 1960.

On average, the four-day Democratic convention drew 30.2 million viewers
as Illinois Senator Barack Obama, 47, became the first black
presidential nominee of a major political party. This year's Olympic
Games averaged 27.7 million. Viewership of the Denver convention was
almost 50 percent higher than the 20.4 million who tuned into the
Democrats four years ago.

Obama's acceptance speech before more than 75,000 people at Invesco
Field Aug. 28 attracted viewers in 27.7 million households. The
most-watched broadcast, the finale of the CBS television show
``M.A.S.H.,'' was seen in 50.2 million, Nielsen figures show.

The 38.4 million individuals who watched Obama's address on television
represented a 57 percent increase over the 24.4 million who saw
Democratic Senator John Kerry's acceptance speech in Boston four years ago.

More Coverage

The convention audience expanded this year after more networks joined in
prime-time coverage. The 2008 numbers include viewers who watched on 10
networks, including Spanish-language broadcasters Univision and
Telemundo, and replays on digital video recorders. The 2004 numbers
reflect coverage by six networks and didn't include playbacks, Nielsen said.

Walt Disney Co.'s ABC Inc.'s coverage of Obama's acceptance speech was
the most-watched TV program on Aug. 28, with General Electric Co.'s NBC
Universal Inc.'s coverage in second place, Nielsen reported. They drew
higher ratings than other prime-time programs such as CSI and Grey's
Anatomy, which also aired that evening.

The Republicans gather in Minneapolis-St. Paul beginning Sept. 1 for
their convention, at which John McCain, 72, is to receive the party's
nomination.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in St, Paul,
Minnesota, at ; Michael White in Los Angeles at
.