to update: Joe Biden’s State of the Union address attracted 32.3 million viewers, an 18% increase from last year, final Nielsen numbers show.
This was the second largest audience for Biden in his speech to a joint session of Congress. His 2021 speech attracted 38.2 million.
This year’s number is taken from viewership across 14 networks, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Telemundo, Univision PBS, CNN, CNNe, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, NewsMax and NewsNation.
Nielsen said 74% of viewers were 55 or older, 19% were 35-54, and 5% were 18-34. About 56% watched broadcast coverage and 44% watched coverage on cable networks.
According to the updated numbers, Fox News topped all networks with 5.84 million, followed by MSNBC with 4.43 million and CNN with 2.63 million. Fox Business averaged 244,000.
ABC News led the broadcast networks with 5.24 million, followed by NBC News with 4.47 million and CBS News with 4.09 million. Fox Broadcasting drew 1.78 million.
In the 25-54 demo, NBC News was ahead with 1.18 million. Among other broadcast networks in the demo, ABC News averaged 1.15 million and CBS News posted 868,000. Fox’s broadcast averaged 540,000.
Among the cable networks in the demo, Fox News led with 1.41 million, followed by CNN with 710,000 and MSNBC with 695,000. Fox Business averaged 47,000.
previously: President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address attracted about 27.7 million viewers across nine networks, indicating an increase in overall audience compared to last year, according to early Nielsen numbers.
It was watched by about 27.3 million in 2023, across 16 networks. Final Nielsen numbers are expected later today with additional networks added.
Fox News led all networks, drawing 5.64 million, followed by ABC News with 5.02 million, NBC News with 4.33 million, MSNBC with 4.2 million, CBS News with 3.94 million, CNN with 2.51 million, Fox with 1.71 million, and Fox Business with 240,000. . and CNBC with 112,000.
In the 25-54 demo, NBC News led with 1.11 million, followed by ABC News with 1.07 million, Fox News with 1.03 million, CBS News with 824,000, CNN with 646,000, MSNBC with 611,000, Fox News with 516,738, and Fox Business with 40,000. and CNBC with 35,000.
The measurement was performed from 9:15 to 10:45 PM ET. Numbers are from Nielsen via Fox News.
Biden’s first speech as president to a joint session of Congress attracted 26.9 million viewers in 2021. His State of the Union address the following year, in 2022, attracted 38.2 million viewers.