KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2025 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

2020 Presidential Election Television Ratings Down Compared To 2016

The lead-up to the 2020 presidential election seemed like the longest campaign in history.

Supporters and opponents of President Donald Trump were constantly berating each other, and Trump himself was on Twitter on a regular basis.

And that passion — even in the midst of the pandemic — would have seemingly led to more of us trying to find as much media and news coverage of the election as possible, especially on Election Day.

But ratings indicate that wasn’t the case — at least when it comes to traditional choices on broadcast and cable television.

The Show spoke with Marianne Barrett, a journalism professor at Arizona State University's Cronkite School, about how the viewing numbers looked this year in comparison to 2016's ratings.

More Stories From KJZZ

Steve Goldstein was a host at KJZZ from 1997 to 2022.