According to Nielsen, Michael Jackson's memorial service — held Tuesday at the Staples Center in L.A. — pulled in close to 31 million viewers over 19 networks: 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. The figure is still approximately 2 million fewer viewers than those who tuned in for Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.
UPDATED: Nielsen is now reporting the figure is in fact 31,140,882 viewers, not 30,919,882, as previously reported.
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Wow, in 1997 you could not view live events on the internet like you can now. I watched it at work on CNN.com. Will the Nielsen rating system include the internet viewers? I hope they do.
I agree. I watched the first half on TV and the second half online.
I agree. I watched the first half on TV and the second half online.
The truth of the matter is that Nielson is entirely outdated. They have ruined the fate of many shows because they haven’t changed with the time. They don’t include online viewers, making it almost certain that Michael Jackson’s memorial was viewed more than Princess Diana’s. I hate when claims that this are released. Technology changes, these two aren’t comparable with the same data when they happen more than ten years apart. I don’t know anyone who watched it on the television – everyone was at work.
Looks like 9 out 10 didn’t watch !!!
It really is time to ditch the Nielson system. Do these figures count for repeat showings of the memorial? Up here in Canada, we had 4 stations running MJ coverage until 2am in the morning with them just replaying the memorial service. And how many viewers watched this online? Or more importantly, how many people watched this worldwide? This really illustrates just how bad this system is and how studios are making ill advised decisions based on an system that was invented before the internet, tivo or the home computer
That might be less, but I’m guessing it doesn’t take into account the people who were streaming it online.
I, too, watched it online late last night while working on the computer (shared screen.) There are just so many ways to view media showings nowadays, it’d be hard to track accurately.
I would like a total number of viewers that included streaming video, the viewers outside of the U.S., etc. Nielsen doesn’t mean much anymore. I mean, this was aired at 1pm EST when everyone’s working. I’m sure many of those were watching this online or at least used their TiVo.
Yeah, the vast majority of us in the U.S. were at work. Would’ve watched if I could, as I assume tens of millions of others would have.
I watched it flying back home to Florida from Maine on Jetblue.
Of course we have to note that the real numbers of viewers are VASTLY higher than what being reported here by the Nielsen ratings system. This doesn’t include people who dvr’ed while at work, people who watched online, people who watched the service in mass at convention centers, and jumbo screens from Times square, NY to the staples center, L. A. And it certainly doesn’t include the millions around the world that watched the memorial service. Of course accuracy in ratings reporting is a fallacy these days.
I WATCH IT IT WAZ ALSOME I FUCKEN LOVE UH MICHEAL JACKSON
how many watch live here:
http://www.nowgoal.com/21.shtml
I watched it till 5 am , it was sad to say the least , a tragedy really with all his money he was a lost child in a grown mans body really , he seemed to me to be in such emotional pain , he was abused as a child from what hes said on interviews im sure none of what he said was untrue sad how your own family could cause such turmoil and heartbreak all in the name of and for the love of money , I pray he has found peace where ever the here after maybe I found it a shame that his memorial was just another way for others to fill their pockets with money on his behalf even after death ,how distastefull to have made some huge show persay out of Michaels death, i belive in Karma thou and im sure all involved in his demise will someday pay ,as for you Michael ? be well where ever you are now,rest in peace.
Entertainment Tonight is reporting that the actual tv audience for the memorial service was over ONE BILLION viewers.
their numbers doesn’t include the people who watched online, that wasn’t possible for Princess Di’s funeral
The viewership was much larger than that when you include the video streaming which was not widely available during Princess Di’s death. There were more options than TV to watch the service.
Whatever the number, its still a lot of people. i dont think he would care if more people watched his funeral than princess di’s.
I think way more people watched the memorial. That number doesn’t include the people who watched it online.
This is the Michael Jackson that I remember. The one that came after this was someone I couldn’t understand. His transformation was beyond belief. Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAhDwwVMS-k
We have to consider if Diana’s funeral was held on the weekend or a weekday. I think if his memorial was held on the weekend, it will have received more viewers because most people were at work. We also have to consider that Princess Diana was involved in an accident where other passengers were killed also. So, I am sure people watched it for those reasons also. But, Michael Jackson’s memorial received those many viewers because of him, alone.
Yes Mine is Angel,,,And Michael Jackson,,Was a Loving Caring Person;
Whee all Know Wat ore POP SOUL KING ,
WHEE ALL KNOW MICHAEL WAS A THRUE FULL PERSON, THANKS MICHAEL FOR ALL THE WONDERFULL YEARS GIVE TO THIS COUNTERY USA,,Michael I’m love you,,and sal miss you,,
YOU ARE MINE ANGEL ,,AND SEE YOU SOON,
LOVE YOUR ANGEL,
MICHAEL
There is a major poll running over at http://www.tinyurl.com/evilgood as to whether Michael Jackson was good
go away. Your comments are not welcome.
To Melissa- PD’s funeral was held on a Saturday. Just an FYI. There is no way of knowing who all streamlined from work either so I would venture to say MJ’s was seen by over 31 million.
I use to hate him but then one day i was reading a book about him and his death. I felt so sorry for him. And now im in school about to write a reasearch paper about him. We will miss you Micheal.
Im sure also that if MJ service was on a saturday more people would have tuned in. Princess Diana was a sweet funeral but no way impacting like MJ’s. Michael was a talented troubled man, Princess Diana was a beautiful troubled woman. More people would tune in to talent on a saturday.
I didn’t watch the “main event” I’m getting tired of all the Jackson Bull out there. Normal Funeral’s don’t cost 1.4 million in over time crowd control meals for fire police and other people. I think that since the Jackson’s wanted to have this big huge event they should have charged for it or placed it on Pay preview that way it would have paid for it self. How much money did the Media make on this is going to be the is going to be the big Question. Private Citizens have to pay for things like what the Jackson are getting for free. I don’t even want to find out how much everything is going to cost once this is all said and done.
That can’t account for people watching it on communal tvs…like we did here at work, where most people would be on a Tuesday afternoon.
I guess they didn’t count the people online or worldwide