Obama’s Press Conference Draws 28.8 Million

NEW YORK: Nielsen said the president’s Wednesday prime-time press conference drew an audience of 28.8 million people. The event marked his 100th day in office and pulled in an 18.8 household rating on 10 TV networks at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Viewership was 29 percent less than the president’s March 24 press conference, which was seen on 11 networks. That telecast brought in 40.4 million viewers for a 25.9 household rating. President Obama’s first prime-time press conference on Feb. 9 was watched by 49.5 million U.S. viewers on eight networks, generating a 30.8 household rating. Around 37.8 million people watched him get sworn in Jan. 20, for a 25.5 household rating.

Fox bowed out of Wednesday’s event, marking the first time a major broadcast network has not carried a presidential press conference. Its cable sister network, Fox News, carried it, as did ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and MUN2. Telemundo carried it on a tape delay at 11:45 Eastern.