Nielsen: 33.6 million households watch Obama ad

[lunatica]

Nielsen: 33.6 million watched Obama ad

If Barack Obama fails to win the election, perhaps the networks should hire him to entertain viewers on Wednesday nights.

Obama's 30-minute primetime infomercial managed to outperform the usual broadcast programming in the 8 p.m. time period.

The ad was seen by 33.6 million viewers across seven networks -- including CBS, NBC, Fox, Univision, MSNBC, BET and TV One.

That's 70% more people than watched the conclusion of the World Series last night on Fox (19.8 million).


>> Among all seven networks, the time period typically draws a total of 30.3 million -- so Obama increased the viewership by about 11%.

http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/10/obama-ad-rating.html

[SoCalNative]

1. I'm sorry but it's basically a commercial

Nielsen shouldn't be tracking it or including it among the ratings for REGULAR programming for Wednesday night.

[shadowknows69]

3. What product was he selling exactly?

[SoCalNative]

7. He didn't need to be selling anything

he paid for the uninterrupted airtime, so it is classified as paying for commercial time and not regular programming.

[tekisui]

4. Huh?

It had viewers, why not track it? I don't get your point.

[SoCalNative]

8. My point is that there were networks running regular programming

and those shows could have benefitted by not having to compete ratings-wise with Obama's message.

[gblady]

10. not clear on your agenda....

nt

[justiceischeap]

16. Must be a Pushing Daisies fan and since it's rating are TANKING, gonna blame it on Obama

Makes sense to me. :shrug:

[WolverineDG]

20. They all got a shot at airing the Obamamercial

if they didn't show it, too bad.

dg

[stillcool]

26. Why not? You think ratings should...

only be revealed for "regular" programming? Have to hide the ratings of all 'special' programming? Or is it only when Obama has a 1/2 hour special that the ratings have to be on the QT?

[lunatica]

5. Did you watch it?

I did and it was about American's problems and what he plans to do about them in specific terms. A Commercial is to sell a product and he wasn't selling. He was talking directly to the people just like FDR used to in his fireside chats. I found it refreshing in so many ways! To be talked to as if I matter, and in complete sentences and for half an hour is great. The people who's lives he showed were quite genuine and not paid actors selling anything.

[TahitiNut]

13. Oh? What "commerce" was being promoted?

What's the distinction between a "commercial" and an "advertisement"? Is it possible that Obama was making a "Public Service Announcement"?

:eyes:

[drm604]

14. Your point being?

I'm sorry but I don't understand why you think that's relevant to anything.

[guitar man]

19. Why not?

Nielsen tracks everything on tv, including infomercials.

[fishwax]

21. why not?

[Incitatus]

24. I dont' think you understand how Nielsen works.

[gblady]

2. GOBAMA!!!

:toast: :bounce: :applause: :bounce: :toast:

[Winterblues]

6. But only half as many as watched the Biden Palin Debate...

:shrug: I was hoping for a hundred million at least..

[lunatica]

12. Nielsen only rates households, not individual people

So you can probably double that if at least two people in each household watched, which could easily happen.

Here in California it was shown during the evening commute time. I listened to it on the radio on my way home. That means millions of Californians weren't near their TV, but listened to it on the radio like I did.

So it's easily far more than 33 million people

[lunatica]

18. They watched to see if Palin was going to screw up

And to see if Biden would pick on her. It was kind of like the car races. People watch in case there's a really bad accident.

Everyone's learned Obama doesn't screw up every time he opens his mouth. Sara Palin and McCain on the other hand....

[DS1]

9. Ever notice that most replies that start with "I'm sorry but" usually suck?

[SoCalNative]

11. Well.."I'm sorry" if you don't like my opinion

but I am entitled to it as you are yours.

[plcdude]

25. Opinion or statement of fact

"I'm sorry but it's basically a commercial" is a statement of fact not an opinion. You could say, "it is my opinion that the program was commercial-like". But if you say it's basically a commercial then you are subject to validating this fact with supporting evidence that affirms it's "commercial" characteristics. The responses you received were attempting to clarify and test the fact that you were espousing. No need to apologize merely provide rationale for your statement.

[TahitiNut]

17. I notice that the individual is usually lying ... since there's almost NEVER any sorrow.

Instead, such stances are almost always better characterized as pompous, condescending, and arrogant. Often, I regard the cynical use of the word "sorry" almost as an obscenity ... employing terms best reserved for sincerity and compassionate human interaction in a manner that's anything but.

[lunatica]

22. You are right on!

It's a sarcastic way of criticizing. People who use the phrase can't wait to put something or someone down while pretending that they're sorry to do it.

[cobalt1999]

15. I wish there was a breakdown between Republicans, Democrats, & Undecided

Most Democrats are already voting for him so it's just preaching to choir.
Most Republicans either didn't watch or it wouldn't change their votes anyway.

I'm most interested in how many undecideds watched and what the influence was among that audience. 33.6 million viewers should have a large number of undecideds.

[TWiley]

23. I just hope they weren't all Democrats watching n/t

[SouthernerforObama]

27. I want the state by state breakdown

Is that even possible? lol