• by Wayne Friedman , July 8, 2009

TV coverage of Michael Jackson's memorial service hit 31.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research -- comparable to other major televised funerals/memorials.

The service, which ran from about 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., aired on 19 networks, including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, Telefutura, Telemundo, Univision, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Headline News, BET, E!, MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic, TV Guide Network and TV ONE.

All accounted for a combined Nielsen 20.6 household rating/56 household share. Virtually all TV networks aired the service commercial-free.

The viewing of Jackson's memorial service was a bit lower than other major events of the passing of major personalities.

The most recent was in June 2004 for President Reagan's burial, which earned 35.1 million viewers -- coming from a combined eight networks. Seven years before, in September 1997, Princess Diana's funeral netted 33.3 million viewers, also for eight networks.

Two lesser viewed funerals included President Ford and Pope John Paul II. Ford's funeral pulled in 15.0 million viewers; Pope John Paul II's drew 8.8 million viewers.

Separately, Internet discussion of Jackson pulled in more buzz. On June 25, the day of Jackson's death, conversations about Jackson grabbed nearly 8% of all conversations on the Web. On July 7, the day of the memorial service, Jackson discussions accounted for 3% of all Internet conversations.