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The debate had a 7.2 household rating, which would make it the second-most watched Democratic debate this cycle. | Getty NBC Dem debate ratings: 10.2 million

Sunday's Democratic primary debate, hosted by NBC, attracted 10.2 million viewers, the network announced.

Another 1.2 cumulative million viewers watched the debate's livestream on YouTube, NBC News' website and other streaming sites, NBC said.

The higher than expected numbers make the debate the second-most-watched Democratic primary debate of the 2016 cycle, behind CNN's October debate, which attracted 15.2 million viewers. It also becomes the third-most-watched Democratic primary debate ever.

Sundays are a popular day for TV viewing, but viewership is often lower on holiday weekends such as this one.

Overall, this cycle has seen record primary debate ratings, though the Republican debates have far outpaced the Democratic debates in ratings.

The Democratic National Committee has come under harsh criticism for scheduling only six debates, three of them on weekend evenings. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley participated in Sunday's debate.