Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Sign up for Axios Pro Rata
Dive into the world of dealmakers across VC, PE and M&A with Axios Pro Rata. Delivered daily to your inbox by Dan Primack and Kia Kokalitcheva.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Want a daily digest of the top Nashville news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Nashville newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Columbus news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Columbus newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Dallas news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Dallas newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Austin news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Austin newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Atlanta news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Atlanta newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Philadelphia news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Philadelphia newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Chicago news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Chicago newsletter.
Sign up for Axios NW Arkansas
Stay up-to-date on the most important and interesting stories affecting NW Arkansas, authored by local reporters
Want a daily digest of the top DC news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios DC newsletter.
Brett Kavanaugh. Photo: Jim Bourg-Pool/Getty Images.
20 million people tuned in to at least part of the Kavanaugh hearings on TV Thursday, just slightly higher than the final number of Americans who watched the James Comey hearings on TV last year.
Why it matters: The drama has captured the attention of the nation because of its historic implications both for the makeup of the Supreme Court for the next several decades and for the momentum of the #MeToo movement.
Yes but: These are preliminary ratings and they don't include digital viewership on social media or streaming sites. A final number will be released by Nielsen on Monday.
By the numbers: According to Nielsen, the common coverage viewership number for the Kavanaugh/Ford Testimony yesterday among the six major broadcast and cable networks — ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX News, CNN and MSNBC — was 20.4 million. This doesn't include viewership data from other networks, so it is likely to be even higher.
Millions of viewers also tuned into the hearings on digital platforms. For example, NBC says 6.8 million viewers livestreamed the hearings through NBC News digital platforms. CNN says it had its biggest day of 2018 for live streaming with 8.2 million live starts on its website and apps and more than 10 million when you include YouTube and Facebook.
In cable, Fox News dominated hearing, beating its competitors by a landslide in total viewers and in the coveted 25-54 year-old demographic, which is what's most valuable to advertisers.
- Fox News had 5.7 million total viewers and 1.1 million in the coveted 25-54 demographic.
- MSNBC had 2.9 million viewers and 461,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 demographic.
- CNN had 2.5 million total viewers and 736,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 demographic.
In broadcast, ABC had the most total viewers, but NBC had the most viewers in the 25-54 year-old demographic.
- NBC had 2.9 million total viewers and 749,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 demographic.
- ABC had 3.2 million total viewers and 691,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 demographic.
- CBS had 3.1 million total viewers and 632,000 viewers in the coveted 25-54 demographic.