67 Million Watched Clinton Speech on TV, Nielsen Reports

More than 67 million viewers tuned into President Clinton’s Monday evening speech in which he admitted involvement with former intern Monica S. Lewinsky, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The speech was carried on the four major networks and various cable outlets.

In contrast, Clinton’s State of the Union address in January drew 53 million viewers, the highest viewership for that event since 1993. Interest in that speech was heightened by allegations of Clinton’s involvement with Lewinsky.

More households tuned in to Clinton than watched President Nixon deliver his resignation speech in 1974, although there are more television sets in the country now than 24 years ago.

Meanwhile, a media watchdog said the scandal has been the most reported story on television this year, with more than double the number of stories devoted to the second-place issue, the weapon inspection standoff in Iraq.

The Lewinsky scandal exceeded the networks’ combined coverage this year of the Asian economic crisis, the United Auto Workers strike, nuclear testing by India and Pakistan, Northern Ireland peace talks, Clinton’s trip to China, the pope’s visit to Cuba, the Winter Olympics and Viagra, said the Center for Media and Public Affairs in Washington.