Americans Glued To Meghan-Harry Wedding

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event that captivated audiences worldwide. On Saturday, May 19, 2018, millions of people in the United States woke up early to witness the royal couple exchange their vows. The wedding ceremony, which took place at Windsor Castle in England, attracted an estimated 29 million viewers in the US alone, according to Nielsen data. With the broadcast airing from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. EST, Americans tuned in across 15 different channels to celebrate the union of Prince Harry and the American actress, Meghan Markle.

NBC had the highest ratings with 6.4 million viewers

NBC's coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was watched by 6.4 million viewers, the highest ratings of any network. The wedding, which took place at Windsor Castle in England, drew a large audience in the US, with a total of 29 million viewers across 15 channels that aired the ceremony live. NBC's coverage, which ran from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Eastern Time, attracted a significant number of viewers, contributing to the overall high ratings for the royal wedding in the US.

NBC's strong performance in the ratings can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, NBC has historically had the strongest news division and Saturday morning news programs, making it a preferred choice for viewers interested in following the royal wedding. The network's coverage was anchored by well-known personalities like Savannah Guthrie of Today, who provided comprehensive and engaging lifestyle news coverage of the event. Additionally, NBC's reputation for strong news programming likely contributed to its high ratings, as viewers sought out a reliable source for this special news broadcast.

NBC's coverage of the royal wedding attracted a larger audience than its competitor networks. ABC, for example, had 6.3 million viewers, while CBS averaged 4.8 million. Cable news networks also trailed behind NBC, with Fox News drawing 1.9 million viewers and CNN close behind with 1.8 million. MSNBC, which is not typically known for breaking news coverage, averaged 1 million viewers. These numbers showcase NBC's dominance in the ratings for the royal wedding and reinforce its position as a leading news network in the US.

The high ratings for NBC's coverage of the royal wedding highlight the continued appeal of traditional television for significant events. While it can be challenging to draw a mass audience in an era of declining ratings and diverse viewing options, the royal wedding proved that audiences will still tune in to linear TV for the right occasion. The wedding united people in a way that other TV programs with narrower genre focuses might not be able to achieve. As a result, the high ratings for NBC's coverage of the royal wedding offer valuable insights and considerations for networks aiming to attract large audiences in a fragmented media landscape.

ABC was second with 6.3 million viewers

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with millions of viewers tuning in across the globe. While NBC took the top spot in terms of viewership, ABC was a close second, attracting a significant audience for the special broadcast.

ABC's coverage of the royal wedding was a ratings success, with an average of 6.3 million viewers tuning in during the key timeframe of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Eastern Time. This placed ABC ahead of other major networks in the battle for viewers. The network's strong performance can be attributed to its experienced news coverage team, which includes well-known personalities such as Robin Roberts of Good Morning America. ABC's ability to draw such a large audience highlights the continued appeal of traditional television for significant cultural events, even in an era of declining ratings and increasing media fragmentation.

The high viewership numbers for ABC's coverage of the royal wedding can be understood in the context of the event's unique significance. The marriage of a British royal to an American actress, Meghan Markle, naturally piqued the interest of American audiences. Additionally, the wedding's early morning start time meant that viewers had to set their alarms to watch the ceremony live, demonstrating a high level of dedication and interest.

ABC's coverage of the royal wedding served as a reminder of the enduring appeal of royal nuptials for television audiences. The network's ability to attract 6.3 million viewers highlights the importance of strong news coverage teams and the draw of cultural events that bring people together. The event's early morning start time also likely contributed to the high viewership numbers, as dedicated viewers set their alarms to ensure they didn't miss a moment of the highly anticipated wedding.

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a historic occasion, and ABC's coverage played a pivotal role in bringing this event into the homes of millions of Americans. With 6.3 million viewers, ABC's broadcast served as a testament to the network's ability to capture significant moments and engage a wide audience, even in a highly competitive media landscape.

CBS averaged 4.8 million viewers

While CBS attracted a substantial audience, it was outperformed by other major networks. NBC led the way with an average of 6.4 million viewers, closely followed by ABC, which drew 6.3 million pairs of eyes. These two networks benefited from stronger news coverage teams and more established news programs compared to CBS.

The royal wedding was a significant draw for American viewers, with a total of 29 million people tuning in across 15 different broadcast and cable networks. This number represents almost a tenth of all U.S. residents and surpasses the viewership of the previous royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, which attracted 22.8 million viewers.

The high viewership numbers for the wedding of Meghan and Harry can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Meghan Markle's American and biracial background likely played a role, as the wedding centred around her cultural identity with a black American preacher and a gospel choir. Additionally, the wedding took place on a Saturday, allowing more people to tune in. In contrast, the wedding of William and Kate occurred on a Friday morning, making it less accessible for American viewers.

Fox News averaged 1.9 million viewers

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attracted a lot of attention from the American public, with a total of 29 million viewers tuning in across 15 channels that aired the ceremony. Fox News, a cable news network, averaged 1.9 million viewers during the broadcast. This number is significant and contributed to the overall high ratings for the wedding in the US.

The royal wedding attracted a large audience in the US, with many Americans interested in seeing one of their own marry into the British royal family. The ceremony began at 7 am Eastern Time, and despite the early hour, Fox News managed to draw a substantial number of viewers. The network's coverage of the wedding was watched by an average of 1.9 million people, which is impressive for a cable news channel.

Fox News' viewership numbers for the royal wedding are particularly notable when compared to other cable news networks. While Fox News averaged 1.9 million viewers, CNN, another popular cable news channel, averaged 1.8 million viewers. This places Fox News at the top among cable news networks for the coverage of the royal wedding.

The high viewership numbers for Fox News during the royal wedding can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the network's strong news coverage team and reputation for comprehensive lifestyle news reporting may have played a role. Additionally, Fox News' audience may have been particularly interested in the royal wedding due to Meghan Markle's American background.

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a significant event that captivated audiences in the United States. Fox News' average of 1.9 million viewers contributed to the overall high ratings for the wedding and showcased the network's ability to draw viewers for special news broadcasts.

CNN was a close second with 1.8 million viewers

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with many Americans waking up early to tune in. The ceremony, which took place at Windsor Castle in England, attracted an estimated 29 million viewers in the US alone.

While NBC, ABC, and CBS were the top three networks with the highest number of viewers, CNN was a close fourth with 1.8 million viewers. This number is impressive and showcases the popularity of the royal wedding among Americans.

CNN's coverage of the wedding contributed significantly to the overall viewership in the United States. The network's audience of 1.8 million people placed it as a strong competitor to the top three networks. CNN's coverage likely resonated with many Americans who were eager to witness the fairytale wedding between the British Prince and the American actress.

CNN's performance during the royal wedding coverage is worth noting. With a significant number of viewers, the network demonstrated its ability to attract an audience for special events such as this. The high viewership on CNN reflects the interest and engagement of Americans who chose to follow the wedding through the network's coverage.

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle captivated audiences across the United States, and CNN played a crucial role in delivering the event to a substantial number of viewers. The network's close second position with 1.8 million viewers highlights the importance and impact of their coverage during this historic moment.

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