DNC, RNC lose millions of TV viewers compared to 2008 cycle - KOTA Territory News
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Television audiences for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions started stronger than in 2008 on the opening nights.
But as the forums progressed, fewer people tuned in compared to the last election cycle.
TV ratings company Nielsen reports more than 26 million people watched the first night of the DNC, up about 4 million from 2008.
The RNC picked up 800,000 viewers, bringing the first night to more than 22 million.
But the second night, the DNC lost 800,000 viewers, and the RNC lost a whopping 15.3 million.
Why the audience was so much smaller, though, remains a bit of a mystery.
"I don't know if it's because of the economy or if people just quit believing on the Democrats and Republicans, on what they say," Brett Nagel of Rapid City speculated.
"They're worried about watching the Kardashians and worrying about Hollywood and everything else, and they don't care about our country," theorized Chicago resident (on vacation in Rapid City) Pam Lavin.
The final night was the strongest for each convention, with more than 30 million viewers apiece, but both still saw losses compared to 2008.
Democrats lost about 3.6 million, and the Republicans were down 8.7 million.
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