CNN wins

By: Callie McBroom

CNN had the most viewers watching election coverage on cable Tuesday night. In fact, only ABC beat CNN's numbers during prime time last night. ABC had 13,135,000 total prime time viewers compared to 12,292,000 for CNN.

"This was CNN's highest-ever viewership in prime time," according to TVNEWSER. And, the cable channel beat out network channels NBC, CBS and FOX.

Prior to the election, Brian Stelter for The New York Times pointed out CNN's countdown to poll closing time that started days ahead of the election. This was all in an effort to stay ahead of their competition. Mainly refering to FOX and MSNBC.

Stelter is also calling the 2008 election "a cable news election" because the big network broadcasters are slowing dying, and cable tv is changing the way elections are covered.

"TV ratings for Presidential election nights have shown an upward trend over the last 44 years," according to TV by the Numbers. This and the high ratings already during the debates and the national conventions coverage, lay the foundation for record tv ratings for this year's election.