CNN says 47.9 million people watched the presidential debate across all networks

CNN said Friday that 47.9 million people watched the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump across broadcast and cable TV as well as streaming.

While still a sizable TV audience, it represents an approximately 34% drop in viewership from the first Biden-Trump debate in 2020, which drew 73 million viewers.

Still, the debate was the highest-rated program in the network’s history, CNN said, as well as its most livestreamed. It’s also the most-watched nonsports program of the year so far, the network said.

In addition to CNN, the debate was simulcast across all major news networks including NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox; PBS and C-SPAN; and many of the broadcast groups’ sister networks like MSNBC and Fox Business. It was also available for streaming on a host of digital platforms.

The debate has sparked a wave of discussion about whether Biden could step aside as the Democratic candidate for president, though replacing him would be challenging.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.