• by Wayne Friedman , March 2, 2016

For the first big presidential primary night, Super Tuesday, TV networks pulled in some $20 million in TV advertising from election programming -- with most cable networks getting improved viewership.

Broadcast networks pulled in $8.3 million in advertising, according to iSpot.tv, with three of the four major networks -- CBS, ABC and NBC -- scheduling special prime-time programming.

For the entire late afternoon, prime time and late-night time periods, three of the big cable networks -- Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC -- pulled in $12.9 million in advertising.

Eleven states' primary and caucus’ were up for grabs, with current party leaders -- Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, and Republican candidate Donald Trump -- each winning seven states.

Each of the broadcast networks had special 10 p.m. Super Tuesday shows: NBC pulled in a Nielsen 5.74 million average viewers, and a 1.9 rating among key TV news programming 25-54 viewers; CBS earned 5.04 million average Nielsen viewers and a 1.1 rating among 25-54 viewers; and ABC pulled 2.34 million overall viewers and a 0.8 rating among 25-54 viewers.

Fox News prime-time coverage soared 40% in total viewers to 4.9 million viewers from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. versus 2008’s Super Tuesday programming; CNN was up 12% to 4.1 million; while MSNBC was down 6% to 1.98 million.

Fox News and CNN also grabbed higher 25-54 viewers; Fox grew 25% to 1.4 million viewers; CNN, up 12% to 1.6 million; and MSNBC was down 39% to 625,000.