When It Comes to TV Ratings, Ryan Is No Palin

By Christopher Peleo-Lazar

Updated: August 30, 2012 | 3:14 p.m.
August 30, 2012 | 3:12 p.m.

In case anyone was wondering, Paul Ryan is not Sarah Palin, at least in terms of television ratings value for the Republican National Convention.

About 20 million viewers tuned into Wednesday night's speeches by Condoleezza Rice and Ryan. Viewership was down from the first night by about 600,000 viewers. When compared to Palin's vice-presidential introduction in 2008, the number is even more dramatic, as she garnered 37.2 million viewers.

All but two of the networks, cable and broadcast, fell from the first night, but Fox News isn't complaining. The cable network once again dominated the television landscape, with 7.7 million viewers. When viewership peaked at Ryan's speech, Fox News could account for close to half of the total viewers watching the convention as it hit 8.2 million.

ABC was the other network to improve its standing, with an increase of about 2,000 with 2.8 million viewers. CBS lost almost 600,000 viewers.

Ironically, Palin's television appearances were canceled on Fox News due to logistics.

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