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    GOP Debate Draws 18M-plus Viewers; A Rundown Of Last Week’s Nielsens

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1569 Views
    In this Dec. 15, 2015 photo, Donald Trump, left, watches as Ted Cruz speaks during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Venetian Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

    By Frazier Moore, Television Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    The latest GOP debate edged out NFL football and beat everything else to score as last week’s most-watched prime-time program, leaving Democrats and even Adele in the dust.

    The Republican presidential faceoff (the party’s fifth, this time from Las Vegas on Dec. 15) drew 18.17 million viewers to CNN, according to the Nielsen ratings company.

    Sunday’s NFL game between Arizona and Philadelphia, aired on NBC, was the week’s runner-up with 18.11 million viewers.

    “Adele Live in New York,” also aired by NBC, ranked 11th. It was seen by 11.27 million viewers. The New Hampshire debate by Democratic presidential hopefuls, airing Saturday on ABC, drew 8 million viewers to rank 21st for the week.

    But overall, CBS led in prime time with an average 8.9 million viewers, with its series “The Big Bang Theory” (ranked No. 3) and “NCIS” (No. 4) the top scripted broadcasts. CBS could also claim the week’s top nine dramas.

    NBC, in second place for the week, averaged 7.7 million viewers, while ABC had 4.6 million, Fox had 2.9 million, Univision had 1.8 million, Telemundo had 1.5 million, ION Television had 1.4 million, and the CW had 1.1 million.

    ESPN was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.7 million viewers in prime time. ABC Family had 2.3 million viewers, Fox News Channel had 2 million, Discovery had 1.98 million and the Hallmark Channel had 1.94 million.

    NBC’s “Nightly News” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 8.8 million viewers. ABC’s “World News Tonight” was second with 8.4 million and the “CBS Evening News” had 7.4 million viewers.

    Primetime viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for Dec. 14-20. Listings include the week’s ranking and viewership.

    1. Nevada GOP Debate, CNN, 18.17 million.

    2. NFL Football: Arizona at Philadelphia, NBC, 18.11 million.

    3. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 17.23 million.

    4. “NCIS,” CBS, 15.53 million.

    5. Nevada GOP Debate (Introduction), CNN, 15.38 million.

    6. “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 14.03 million.

    7. “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 13.44 million.

    8. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 12.70 million.

    9. “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 12.69 million.

    10. “NCIS: New Orleans,” CBS, 12.09 million.

    11. NFL Football: New York Giants at Miami, ESPN, 11.55 million.

    12. “Adele Live in New York,” NBC, 11.27 million.

    13. “Life in Pieces,” CBS, 10.27 million.

    14. “Football Night in America,” NBC, 9.65 million.

    15. “Survivor,” CBS, 9.46 million.

    16. “Scorpion,” CBS, 9.28 million.

    17. “NCIS: Los Angeles,” CBS, 9.22 million.

    18. “Anderson Cooper: 360,” CNN, 9.10 million.

    19. “Mom,” CBS, 8.95 million.

    20. “The Voice,” NBC, 8.47 million.

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    Category:News
    Tags:Nielsen



    Cassie Forced To Read Aloud In Court Explicit Messages She Sent To Sean “Diddy” Combs

    Thursday, May 15, 2025

    R&B singer Cassie was pressed to read aloud her own explicit messages to ex-boyfriend Sean "Diddy" Combs in federal court Thursday, including texts that showed her expressing desire for the drug-fueled group sex she previously testified left her traumatized.

    Lawyers for Combs sought to portray Cassie to the jury as a willing and eager participant in the music mogul's sexual lifestyle. Combs has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His defense says that, while he could be violent, nothing he did amounted to a criminal enterprise.

    Prosecutors say he exploited his status as a powerful music executive to violently force Cassie and other women into these marathon encounters with sex workers, called "freak-offs," which sometimes lasted days. Combs insists all the sex was consensual. He's also accused of using his entourage and employees to facilitate illegal activities, including prostitution-related transportation and coercion, which is a key element of the federal charges.

    Messages between Combs and Cassie — both romantic and lurid — were the focus of the fourth day of testimony in a Manhattan courtroom. Defense attorney Anna Estevao read what Combs wrote, while Cassie recited her own messages about what she wanted to do during the freak-offs. Cassie's testimony will resume Friday.

    Combs, 55, has been jailed since September. He faces at least 15 years in prison if convicted.

    Defense highlights Cassie's messages to Combs
    While Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, has said she felt compelled to participate in freak-offs to keep Combs happy, Estevao pointed to message exchanges where Cassie appeared excited about the sexual encounters and raised the idea of... Read More

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