• by Wayne Friedman , October 4, 2012

Broadcast networks generally topped all cable networks when it came to TV viewers of the first presidential debate -- but cable and broadcast networks were mostly even when it came to social interactions.

For the 90-minute debate, Fox News Channel pulled in Nielsen preliminary 10.4 million TV viewers; CBS had 10.2 million; ABC 10.1 million; NBC, 9.9 million; Fox, 7.0 million; CNN, 6.0 million; and MSNBC, 4.7 million.

But according to Trendrr, a social media researcher, some 12 broadcast and cable networks were pretty even when it came to the number of social media interactions, from public Twitter accounts, pulling in anywhere from 1.1 million to 1.3 million each. Overall, the presidential debate social media posts stirred up 13,577,394 Twitter posts total throughout the day.

CNN grabbed the most social media interactions. Its "Debate Night in America" took in 1,265,421. NBC's "2012 Presidential Debate" saw 1,205,909; with PBS's "Debates 2012: A Special Report" at 1,190,613.

MSNBC's "First Presidential Debate" had 1,147,756; ABC's "ABC News: Your Voice, Your Vote: 2012 Presidential Debates", 1,136,191; and Fox' "Fox News: America's Election HQ", 1,133,292.

Next came CBS' "CBS News: The First Presidential Debate" at 1,109,308: CNBC's" Your Money, Your Vote: The Presidential Debate" at 1,103,780; Telemundo's "Decision 2012" 1,098,839; and Current TV's "Politically Direct: Presidential Debate" with 1,084,212.

Each presidential candidate grabbed over 3 million social media posts each, according to Trendrr.  Barack Obama had 3,176,996 twitter posts throughout the day -- 48% with a positive sentiment; 23% negative; and 29% neutral. Mitt Romney had 3,060,580 -- 47% positive; 25% negative; and 27% neutral.

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