ABC US presidential debate attracted 57.5 million TV viewers – preliminary Nielsen data
By Helen Coster, Reuters
Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Photo: AFP / SAUL LOEB
The US presidential debate between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump attracted 57.5 million television viewers across seven TV networks, according to preliminary Nielsen data on Wednesday.
Tuesday night's event was the first time the candidates in the 5 November presidential election had met face to face.
The viewing figure tops the roughly 51 million people who watched Trump debate then-candidate President Joe Biden in June.
It does not capture the full extent of online viewing, which has grown in popularity as traditional TV audiences decline.
Nor does it reflect viewers who watched the debate in bars and restaura...










