Nearly 30 Million Viewers Tune Into Republican Convention Finale

The final night of the Republican Convention drew 29.7 million viewers across seven broadcast and cable networks, according to Nielsen.

Fox News led broadcast and cable networks during Last night’s televised convention coverage from 10 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. -- which featured Donald Trump’s acceptance speech as the Republican Presidential nominee – with 9.3 million viewers, followed by CNN with 5.4 million watchers, both beating out broadcast networks NBC (4.5 million). ABC (3.8 million) and CBS (3.8 million). MSNBC drew 2.95 million viewers to its convention coverage.

Last night’s nearly 30 million viewers was easily the most watched night of the four-night convention in Cleveland, topping the 23.4 million viewers who tuned into Wednesday’s coverage of the convention across broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS as well as cable networks MSNBC, CNN, Fox Business Network and Fox News, according to Nielsen.

Tuesday’s Republican convention coverage generated 19.8 million viewers, while the convention’s opening night Monday averaged an estimated 23 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.