NBC, CNN Top Ratings in Final Night of DNC

Nets win primetime and 10 p.m. speech block

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/7/2012 3:26:53 PM

During the final night of the Democratic National Convention, NBC was the most-watched broadcast network and CNN topped the cable news networks in primetime, according to Nielsen.

NBC averaged 7.03 million total viewers in its two hours of coverage from 9-11 p.m. on Thursday. CNN drew 4.11 million total viewers and 1.56 million viewers in the key adults 25-54 demo from 8-11 p.m.

MSNBC, which ranked among the cablers the prior night, fell to second place with 3.61 million total viewers and 1.29 million in the demo. Fox News Channel was third with 2.66 million total viewers and 673,000 key adults.

During the keynote speech block from 10-11:15 p.m. ET, when President Obama formally accepted the party's nomination, NBC was again tops in total viewers with 8.93 million. CNN and MSNBC rounded out the top three with 5.56 million and 4.56 million viewers, respectively.

ABC was fourth at the hour with 4 million viewers, CBS placed fifth with 3.29 million and Fox News trailed with 2.91 million.