Nielsen: 20.6 million watched inauguration
BY Associated Press
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
NEW YORK — Nielsen said an estimated 20.6 million people watched President Barack Obama's second inauguration on TV, sharply down from his first.
The company, which measures television audience, said the number represents just over half of the 37.8 million people who saw Obama's first inauguration in 2009. Eighteen networks aired some part of this year's inaugural ceremony on Monday.
According to Nielsen records, this year's ceremony was the second least-watched inauguration since 1969. It beat only President George W. Bush's second ceremony in 2005, which was seen by 15.5 million.
The most-watched inauguration since 1969 was President Ronald Reagan's first oath-taking in 1981, which was seen by 41.8 million people.
NBC had the largest number of viewers among broadcast networks on Monday, with CNN the cable news leader.
Associated Images:
President Barack Obama, right, and first lady Michelle Obama watch the Inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue as their daughters, Sasha, left, and Malia, second from left, dance in the presidential box near the White House, Monday in Washington. GERALD HERBERT/AP Photo
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