4.1m people watch live coverage of the Sky News Debate

[NewsreadeR]

Last night's Sky News Debate between Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg was watched by a total live audience of 4.073 million across all of the channels on which it was broadcast. The total audience peaked between 21.00 and 21.15 when 4.592 million people were watching the debate, which was moderated by Sky News political editor Adam Boulton.

Overnight data from the industry research body BARB shows that the biggest live audience was on Sky News itself, which was watched by an average of 2.125 million between 20.00 and 21.30. Live coverage was also broadcast on the BBC News Channel, watched by an average of 1.362 million, and Sky 3, which was watched by an average of 586,000.

John Ryley, Head of Sky News, said: "It is clear that the Leaders’ Debates have struck a chord with the British public and energised the election campaign, just as we hoped they would when we called on the three main party leaders to join in a televised debate. I am delighted that so many people chose to watch Sky News' coverage on all of the platforms where it was available."

[Undecided Adrian]

hmmm between 21:00 and 21:15 was when the snooker with Steve Davis was on it's mid session interval.

Personally the Snooker was a lot more gripping than what I saw of the debate.

I think Gordon Brown has made a mistake calling the election on May the 6th, even my wife is watching the snooker rather than watch election coverage, sorted

[Isitme]

That is a big drop on the first one which pulled in nearly 10 million. I think it was because it was on Sky, which does not yet have the coverage of terrestrial TV. If they had publicised that it was on BBC 24 on freeview and sat, they could possibly have pulled in more.

I am not sure that having a Big Brother or X-factor type competition is a good way to influence voters.

[Undecided Adrian]

well if we had a X-factor style contest I'd be voting for Joanna Lumley.

To be honest the leaders debate has given the Lib Dems a shot in the arm they needed, recently in PMQ's Nick Clegg has been asking some very awkward questions and making Gordon Brown look very bad.

Yet as it was the Lib Dems the media were deliberatly ignoring them or giving them minimal coverage and now suddenly they are in the thick of it where they should be.

[Alan b]

I didn't watch it but it did strike me as odd that it was also being shown live on BBC News 24, last weeks ITV one wasn't was it ?

[Isitme]

I think they realised that it would be a bad idea to show it on pay TV only, hence the showing on News 24. Didn't help the figures much though.

[reddwarfcrew]

Sky made the rights freely available to anyone. BBC could have simulcast on BBC1 if they wanted, but there's some story about the BNP wanting airtime if they did. Not sure where i read that tho.

edit link: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...d-griffin.html