Trump-Biden Debate Draws Fewer Viewers Than Clinton Matchup

Audience declines 13% from first debate four years ago
Fox leads other networks with 17.8 million total audience

Donald Trump, right, arrives to the first U.S. presidential debate with Joe Biden, left, in Cleveland, Ohio on Sept. 29.Photographer: Olivier Douliery/AFP/Bloomberg

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By John J Edwards, Christopher Palmeri, and Gerry Smith

September 30, 2020 at 4:16 PM UTC

Updated on

September 30, 2020 at 10:23 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

President Donald Trump’s chaotic first debate with former Vice President Joe Biden attracted fewer viewers than his showdown with Hillary Clinton four years ago, but it was a hit on Fox News, whose anchor moderated the evening.

The TV audience tumbled 13% to 73.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. Fox Corp.’s news channel said it led the night with 17.8 million tuned in, well ahead of Walt Disney Co.’s ABC, which finished second with 12.6 million. Viewers remained steady throughout the debate, according to Michael Mulvihill, a Fox executive vice president for research.