First Clinton-Trump Presidential Debate Sets Record for Viewers
- More than 84 million people tuned in across 13 TV networks
- NBC tops broadcast, cable networks with 18.2 million viewers
The First 2016 Presidential Debate in Three Minutes
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The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton drew more than 84 million viewers, making it the most-watched in history.
The number snapped the previous record for the biggest debate audience set during the 1980 contest between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, which drew 80.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen data released Tuesday. Monday’s tally also eclipsed the first 2012 debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, which had 67.2 million viewers.