Fox News scores with Palin speech

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The huge television audience that checked out Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech Wednesday night -- a staggering 37 million people -- translated into major dividends for Fox News. Nearly a quarter of those who watched the speech did so on the cable news network, which attracted 9.2 million viewers between 7 and 8:15 p.m. PDT, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Not only does that make the Palin speech the most-watched convention telecast in cable news, but it put Fox News on top of all the competition for a second night in a row.

This year’s political conventions have showcased the dominance of cable over the traditional broadcast powerhouses. CNN boasted the highest viewership during last week’s Democratic convention, pulling in 8.1 million viewers with its coverage of Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech.

The public’s interest in Palin lifted ratings for all the networks Wednesday night. NBC drew 7.7 million viewers, while CNN pulled in 6.2 million. ABC followed with 5.9 million, CBS posted 4.6 million and MSNBC attracted 3.4 million.

-- Matea Gold