Fox/Google debate draws biggest audience of 2012 race so far

The Fox News/Google Republican presidential debate drew the biggest television audience of any debate of the 2012 campaign cycle to date.

Thursday's broadcast averaged 6,107,000 total viewers, according to Nielsen, eclipsing the 5,411,000 that tuned in to MSNBC for the Republican debate on Sept. 7.

The Google debate also drew 1,701,000 25-to-54-year-old viewers--slightly less than the 1,728,000 that watched the debate on MSNBC.

Last night's debate, which aired from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET, was up against fall network television premieres--including NBC's slate of new shows.

The debate ratings so far:

May 5, 2011 | Fox News
TOTAL VIEWERS: 3,258,000 25-TO-54-YEAR-OLDS: 854,000

June 13, 2011 | CNN
TOTAL VIEWERS: 3,162,000 25-TO-54-YEAR-OLDS: 918,000

August 11, 2011 | Fox News
TOTAL VIEWERS: 5,050,000 25-TO-54-YEAR-OLDS: 1,426,000

Sept. 7, 2011 | NBC/MSNBC
TOTAL VIEWERS: 5,411,000 25-TO-54-YEAR-OLDS: 1,728,000

Sept. 12, 2011 | CNN
TOTAL VIEWERS: 3,613,000 25-TO-54-YEAR-OLDS: 1,132,000

Sept. 22, 2011 | Fox News
TOTAL VIEWERS: 6,107,000 25-TO-54-YEAR-OLDS: 1,701,000

Source | Nielsen