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CNN beats PBS in Democratic debate ratings

PBS might have been the host of Thursday's Democratic debate, but it was CNN that brought in more viewers by simulcasting the debate.

According to Nielsen, a total of 8.03 million viewers watched the debate: 3.9 million of them on PBS and 4.1 million on CNN. But in an interesting twist, PBS had more viewers in the key advertiser demographic of 25-54 year-olds. PBS topped CNN in the demo 1.2 million to 1.1 million viewers.

It was CNN's idea to simulcast the debate (it paid PBS a licensing fee for the rights), but the Democratic National Committee encouraged it as a way to boost viewership. The Democratic debate hosted by MSNBC last week (which was put together in less than a month and originally not sanctioned by the DNC), drew in 4.5 million viewers. The combined total of the PBS/CNN debate also beat the previous broadcast network debate ratings, the Dec. 19 debate hosted by ABC which brought in 7.85 million viewers.

The next Democratic debate will be March 6, in Flint, Michigan, and will be hosted by CNN.