Debate Viewership Up 34% Over 2000; NBC Attracts Biggest Audience.(TV Currents)(Brief...

Byline: Michele Greppi

An estimated 62.5 million viewers saw the first of three televised presidential debates between President Bush and challenger Sen. John Kerry last Thursday night, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That's a 34 percent increase over 2000, when an estimated 46.6 million people tuned in for live coverage of the first debate between Vice President Al Gore and Mr. Bush on ABC, CBS, Fox News Channel, CNN and MSNBC. NBC and Fox Broadcasting carried baseball playoffs live and offered the debate on a delayed basis in 2000. This year NBC and Fo