CNN's Trump-Biden debate draws 51 million viewers in drop from past elections

Approximately 51.3 million people watched the first general election debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden on Thursday night, according to Nielsen's final ratings. This marks a significant drop in viewership compared to the first general election debates of the last two presidential races.

Why it matters: Biden's lackluster performance and Trump's highly anticipated return drew a considerable audience, but very few young viewers tuned in. Only 3.9 million of the 51.3 million viewers were aged 18-34.

By the numbers:
- 47.9 million watched on live TV across several networks.
- Among the key 25-54 age demographic, 12.6 million tuned in.
- CNN reported over 30 million live starts on its digital platforms and YouTube.
- Many others likely watched clips on social media.
- Full viewership data will be slightly higher when final figures are released.

The intrigue: Initially, Fox News seemed to have the most viewers, but CNN ultimately had the highest count:
- CNN: 9.53 million
- Fox News: 9.27 million
- ABC: 9.21 million
- NBC: 5.39 million
- CBS: 5.01 million
- MSNBC: 4.12 million
- FOX: 3.67 million

Zoom out: Allowing other networks to simulcast its live feed increased CNN's exposure, but the numbers still fell short compared to recent general election debates. The first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in 2016 drew 84 million viewers, while the first debate between Trump and Biden in 2020 drew 73 million viewers.

Between the lines: Trump's participation likely boosted initial interest due to his absence from recent primary debates, which had lower ratings. Biden's poor performance attracted significant attention online, with many viral clips circulating.

The big picture: The value of political debates has been questioned as audiences shift to getting news from social media. Despite this, Thursday's debate highlighted the importance of debates in presenting candidates in unscripted, high-pressure situations.