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Lower ratings for ABC 7 debate

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Illinois

* Most of the people who saw last night’s debate watched the delayed Channel 7 broadcast at 10:30. Lewis Lazare has the numbers…

The Nielsen overnight ratings in the Chicago market showed the debate on Channel 7 winning the hour time slot that began at 10:30 p.m. — but only by the slimmest of margins. The debate notched a 4.2 average rating, while “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” was just behind with an average 4.1 rating. One rating point equals 35,000 households in the Chicago market.

Beating Fallon is nice, but that 4.2 is actually lower than CBS 2’s gubernatorial debate last week, which notched a 4.6.

A few folks did watch online, but we’re talking 147,000 households out of 4.8 million in all of Illinois, which works out to just 3.1 percent.

Again, media coverage and TV ads are how most people who care will find out about what happened last night.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 2:43 pm

Comments

You know, I have to agree. Bruce Rauner is funnier than Jimmy Fallon… only slightly. Nielsen does it again!

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 2:51 pm
I don’t think either of these candidates are particularly interesting. I’m guessing most of the electorate has already decided who gets their vote.

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 2:55 pm
To the Post,

These two can get an Ad to use to either close, or attack, that is who they were playing to, at times, the Ad Guys

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:14 pm
Apples and Oranges. Letterman was a “rerun.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:18 pm
Not everyone in Illinois gets Channel 7 and 10:30 is not a huge audience time but it does suggest the ennui the voting public is feeling about this race.

Comment by Bourbonrich Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:21 pm
I saw enough on the earlier debates. Nothing changed my opinion.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:34 pm
The debate was also presented live on broadcast TV in the Chicago market by viewing 7.2.

Broadcast TV must be insignificant to Lazare; maybe Nielsen, too.

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:35 pm
Not surprising. Tried to “stream” the debate at 6 and the video froze on me. DVR’d the debate because it ran too late for me. Why couldn’t the net’s interrupt such precious viewing as “Dancing with the Stars” to give the debate prime time? A further insult to civic-mindedness in our community.

Comment by Conservative Republican Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:38 pm
===also presented live on broadcast TV in the Chicago market by viewing 7.2===

lol

Oh, yeah, big numbers there.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:38 pm
How’s it compare to Judy and Sheila?

Please don’t ask him to look it up.

Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:42 pm
I wonder if anyone even bothers measuring broadcast TV viewership any more.

Maybe if it’s ignored long enough the next generation won’t even consider NOT paying for TV as a “viable” option.

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:47 pm
Those Channel 2 ratings are probably better than they’re used to at 6 p.m.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 3:54 pm
When my dad was in his nursing home his roomate’s tv was always on the same local channel, whether he was way comb it or even in the room. That’s probably yummier of your 4.2 share “viewers”

Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:04 pm
@Roadiepig — I’m heading there, but I thought most of the homes had cable.

Never had cable. Might even drop the internet in 2015. If so, you’ll know any 2014 Kasich Walker, Jr. posts will be made at the local library or maybe the race track — assuming property taxes don’t start bringing the wi-fi home.

Comment by Kasich Walker, Jr. Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:09 pm
I didn’t watch this last debate either. After the first two debates the pattern was set and I honestly didn’t expect anything but more of the same. Given how badly Mr. Rauner had melted down on the WTTW over the Chicago Teachers union I have to give both his handlers and him credit for retaining composure during the debates.

Mr. Rauner has a very nasty edge to him when he lets it fly, but he kept it within himself. If he should get elected governor, which I hope he does not, I would not want to be his chief of staff.

Comment by Rod Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:13 pm
I started watching but fell asleep about 5 minutes in.

Comment by Because I say so... Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:22 pm
Whether he was watching or not even in the room. That’s probably most of your 4.2 share

Wow I HAVE to start proofreading my text before posting

Comment by Roadiepig Tuesday, Oct 21, 14 @ 4:29 pm