38 million Americans watched Obama, and that's not including C-SPAN or PBS viewers!!!!

NEW YORK (AP) - Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention was seen by more than 38 million people.
Nielsen Media Research said more people watched Obama speak than watched the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, the final "American Idol" or the Academy Awards this year. Obama talked before a live audience of 80,000 people in Denver.

His TV audience nearly doubled the amount of people who watched John Kerry accept the Democratic nomination to run against President Bush four years ago. Kerry's speech was seen by just over 20 million people.

Obama's audience might be higher, since Nielsen didn't have an estimate for how many people watched Obama on PBS or C-SPAN Thursday night.

I wouldn't have been able to stand Network. Also would have missed some of the interesting speeches.

David Brooks did piss me off though

I switched to the networks when Obama got on. Hearing the crowds was soooo much more exciting than the muted background on PBS.

We watched PBS.

I know this may be a stupid question.

Does it have to do with ads, or the lack thereof?

We watched it live online, and were spared ALL of the pundit ridiculousness.

I was honestly inspired, and I'm a "both parties are basically corrupt" independent/constitutionalist.

But come November I WILL be voting for Obama, no question.

last night was off the charts. all the bs crap they were making up about those columns. it was so perfect.

My only complaint was I wish he had looked at the camera more. He tended to look to the left and right too much. He would have connected more to the TV audience if he had looked more at the camera. He also didn't pause enough for the applause. It seemed like there was an echo so if so that must have been tough to time.

I was really impressed with the regular folks who told their story, too. How do you get in front of such a huge audience! I really liked Barney Smith. Very real.

I wanted to watch the convention, not watch talking heads pontificate. And I'll be watching the repuke convention (know the enemy) on C-SPAN as well. Yeah, even you, KO. I'll head back to you now that the conventions are over.

and it was a wonderful convention.

so add one more to that list. :-)

double kick...

was obama's speech last night...I just decided to ignore them until they are made to eat shit like they had to last night and I have no doubt they will be wallowing in it soon

I HATE this 10 pm crap.

It was great: no commercials, no talking heads bloviating their bullshit. In between speeches, we watched a diverse group of Democrats enjoying the convention, which gave us a little taste of experiencing it ourselves. :thumbsup:

I heard Jack Cafferty and Wolf Blitzer congratulating themselves for having the hightest ratings. I was wondering how CSPAN did in the ratings.

I think this was the best Democratic national Convention I have ever seen or heard, and I've followed them for over 30 years (Thanks to CSPAN I could actually watch it, unlike the lousy network coverage!).

However, I think the convention missed the mark for Latinos. There was very little of the convention actually delivered in Spanish (I heard a few lines from Gov. Bill Richardson and Gov. Tim Kaine). I know that Univision broadcasted the Obama speech translated in Spanish and I believe that Comcast did Spanish simulcast, but my Spanish-speaking friends primarily only watched the Obama speech (if anything) with a few catching Pres Clinton's speech. Coverage of the convention among Spanish-speaking press was not particularly positive.

The primary issues for the Latino community, immigration, was largely skirted. The convention planners spent one day bringing out a whole sting of military speakers, trying to look strong on military. The same effort should have been given to reaching the Latino community. There should have been more key Latino politicians speak, such as Mayor Villaraigosa of L.A.

The friction and distrust in this nation between out Latino and black community is perhaps the biggest Achilles heal for Obama. If Obama can not more effectively attract Latino voters, we will not reach the Presidency.

I bet you that McCain will not make the same mistake with the Republican National Convention. I suspect you will see the Republicans make a more overt effort to attract Latino voters.

I did.