MSNBC, CNN Lead Ratings As 22 Million Watch Joe Biden’s Speech

22 million people watched the final night of the Democratic National Convention, as Joe Biden accepted his party’s nomination for president and delivered an impassioned appeal to “overcome this season of darkness in America.” In a speech widely praised—even on Fox News—Biden vowed to unite the country. “Here and now, I give you my word: If you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us not the worst. I will be an ally of the light not of the darkness.”

The largest share of the audience went to MSNBC, which had a total audience of 6.146 million viewers in the key period of 10 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. ET, according to ratings data compiled by Nielsen. CNN was second with 5.565 million viewers, followed by ABC (2.972 million viewers), Fox News Channel (2.955 million viewers), NBC Broadcast (2.154 million) and CBS (1.985 million).

Among viewers 25-54, the demographic most valued by advertisers, CNN finished first with 1.690 million viewers, followed by MSNBC (1.247 million viewers), ABC (799,000 viewers), Fox News Channel (639,000 viewers), NBC Broadcast (568,000 viewers) and CBS (473,000 viewers).

Ratings overall were up from the night before, when 21 million watched the Democratic National Convention’s third night—a night filled with notable speakers including former President Barack Obama and the history-making acceptance speech by Sen. Kamala Harris.