BARACK OBAMA - OBAMA INFOMERCIAL DRAWS MASSIVE AUDIENCE

OBAMA INFOMERCIAL DRAWS MASSIVE AUDIENCE

In what could become the template for a new form of Franklin Roosevelt's Fireside Chats if the Democratic candidate wins on Tuesday, Barack Obama American Stories attracted 33.5 million viewers on broadcast and cable outlets on Wednesday, according to figures released by Nielsen Media Research on Thursday. NBC attracted the most viewers, 9.85 million -- 55 percent more than tuned in the previous week for Knight Rider . It was also some 2 million more than watched last season's final broadcast of American Idol . In reporting the results, the New York Times commented, "The audience for Mr. Obama's program far exceeded the expectations of television executives _ and many political pundits who questioned whether Mr. Obama was engaging in overkill in buying a half hour on so many networks." In the Washington Post , TV critic Lisa de Moraes observed, "'The Barack Obamamercial' is the first hit of this otherwise pretty dull television season." Later that evening, Obama's appearance on Comedy Central's The Daily Show produced the show's biggest audience ever -- 3.6 million viewers.

31/10/2008