A total of 49.5 million viewers across eight broadcast and cable networks watched President Barack Obama’s first press conference during primetime Monday night.
Updated figures from Nielsen Co. found that 49,455,133 viewers tuned in last night for President Obama’s press conference on the economic stimulus package. The networks included in the figure are ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Univision, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.
Among the cable networks Fox News had the most viewers, with 4.3 million tuning in from 8 to 9 p.m. CNN came in second with 3.2 million, followed by MSNBC in third with 2.1 million.
Across the eight networks, the conference posted a 30.8 household rating.
On Feb. 15, 1993, President Bill Clinton’s first press conference on the economy drew a 42.1 household rating and 64.3 million viewers across four networks. On Oct. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush’s post 9/11 primetime news conference averaged a 42 household rating and 64.8 million viewers across seven networks.
Click here for more information from Nielsen.
(Updated: Cable viewership. 3:45 p.m.)
Check out the Ratings Chart Attack! for more on Monday night’s ratings.