On Media Blog Archives Select Date… December, 2015 November, 2015 October, 2015 September, 2015 August, 2015 July, 2015 June, 2015 May, 2015 April, 2015 March, 2015 February, 2015 January, 2015

David Muir and Martha Raddatz co-hosted the debate. | AP Photo ABC Democratic debate rating: 7.85 million

The ABC-hosted Democratic primary debate on Saturday drew in 7.85 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

Though the rating makes it the least watched debate of the 2016 cycle, the number is higher than some were expecting for a debate on the Saturday before Christmas and with only three candidates on stage.

Even the lowest primary debate numbers from the 2016 cycle are far exceeding the average debate ratings from the 2008 and 2012 cycles. The most watched primary debate of the 2012 election cycle averaged 7.63 million viewers, also on ABC on Dec. 10, 2011. The most watched primary debate in the 2008 cycle was the April 16, 2008, Democratic debate on ABC. That debate drew 10.7 million viewers.