NBC News Tops All TV Networks for 2012 Election Night Coverage

NBC News, America’s leading news organization, was the most-watched broadcast or cable television network for primetime coverage of the 2012 presidential election.

According to Nielsen Media Research fast program ratings, the 8-11pm hours of the broadcast anchored by Brian Williams drew an average of 12.122 million viewers and 5.772 million viewers aged 25-54.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• NBC was #1 in total viewers and all key demos among the broadcast networks.
• NBC delivered 12.122 million viewers, +15% (+1,605,000) more than ABC’s 10.517 million, +53% (+4,199,000) more than CBS’s 7.923 million, and +146% (+7,188,000) more than FOX’s 4.934 million.
• In homes, NBC delivered a 7.3 rating and 11 share, topping ABC’s 6.5/9, CBS’ 5.0/7, and FOX’s 2.9/4.
• In A18-49, NBC averaged a 4.3 rating, beating ABC by +23% (+0.8 points), CBS by +72% (+1.8 points) and FOX by +126% (+2.4 points).
• In A25-54, NBC averaged a 4.9 rating, +26% (+1 rating point) ahead of ABC, +81% (+2.2 points) ahead of CBS and +133% (+2.8 points) more than FOX.
• NBC averaged 5.772 million viewers A25-54, ahead of ABC’s 4.648 million, CBS’ 3.258 million, and FOX’s 2.463 million. 

Democracy Plaza at NBC’s Rockefeller Center headquarters served as a stunning backdrop for the broadcast, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the public spaces. Election results were displayed in real time as states on the U.S. map on the rink turned red or blue, and banners representing electoral votes rose up the front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza toward 270.

NBC News was also the first news organization to call the race for President Barack Obama, thanks to careful data analysis by the NBC News Decision Desk.

The full coverage aired from 7pm-3am ET. Williams was joined by David Gregory, Savannah Guthrie, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, Lester Holt, Tamron Hall, and correspondents, elected officials, and analysts throughout key states across the country.

NBC News has been America’s top choice for reporting and analysis throughout the 2012 campaign, drawing the largest broadcast audiences for both conventions and the presidential debates.