Nielsen’s numbers only capture television viewership and don’t include the millions who streamed the debate on their phones and laptops, nor do they count the YouTube and Twitch creators who streamed the debate and provided live commentary for viewers.
But that doesn’t change the fact that CNN hit primetime viewership records last election cycle, averaging about 2 million viewers in 2020. That number dropped to about 500,000 this week. Compare that to Trump’s recent appearances: Impulsivea podcast hosted by pro-wrestler-turned-influencer Logan Paul. The conversation has been viewed nearly 5 million times on YouTube, and Trump’s video announcing the interview has been viewed more than 120 million times on TikTok. Earlier this month, Trump sat down for an interview with Dr. Phil, which garnered more than 5 million viewers on X. (But remember, these are X numbers, so take them with a pinch of salt.)
While Biden and Trump have reportedly been honing their debate skills in recent weeks, both campaigns are strategizing to handle the online backlash. Over the past week, Trump supporters have primed their supporters for online outrage, criticizing CNN hosts and challenging Biden to a drug test. After facing a week of cheap fake news, the Biden campaign is preparing to fact-check its opponent in real time before false and misleading information spreads in less-than-favorable corners of the internet.
“Our campaign intends to mount a strong and swift response across all platforms,” a Biden campaign official told me on Monday.
CNN will distribute the feed to major media outlets and stream it for free on its website and YouTube account, but the network has strongly warned creators not to broadcast the debates themselves: CNN has exclusive rights to the feed, so it can ban aspiring commentators from using it.
“The CNN presidential debate will be streamed live on CNN.com and CNN’s YouTube channel without a cable TV login and will be widely available through both digital services, in addition to TV and Max streaming coverage. This is an exclusive CNN event and cannot be distributed or manipulated,” Amy Kuhn, CNN’s senior vice president of communications, said in a statement to WIRED on Tuesday.
in the past, Breaking Point The podcast producer said streaming his own commentary on the feed is not an issue.
“I’m going to calm down. CNN has already Breaking Point “They’re saying ‘fuck you,’ so unfortunately I’m taking that as evidence that they’re out for blood,” Trihex, a Twitch streamer and political activist, told me in a direct message on Wednesday. “It might be less risky the next day, but at this point responding live is a nuclear risk.”
“While YouTube strives to balance the rights of copyright holders with the creative activity of our community, we don’t arbitrate copyright claims or decide who owns the rights to content,” a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement to WIRED on Wednesday.
