Fox News' Republican presidential debate blew past the record books on Thursday. Data from Nielsen reveals that 24 million viewers — the most ever for a primary — tuned in from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. to watch the top 10 GOP candidates duke it out.
To put that number in perspective, the 2012 election cycle's most-watched primary debate had 7.63 million viewers. Previous to Thursday's debate, the record was 2008's tally of 10.7 million viewers — a figure that 2016's first debate more than doubled. Cable producers had estimated between six and 10 million viewers for Thursday.
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