--- title: Republican National Convention Ratings Up From 2012 description: The first day of the Republican National Convention saw a rise in ratings compared with the first night of the RNC in 2012 canonical: https://time.com/4413583/republican-national-convention-ratings-up-from-2012-after-first-night/ author: Mahita Gajanan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-07-19T21:09:54.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:55:19.501Z article:section: Politics og:title: Republican Convention Ratings Up From 2012 After First Night og:description: Fox News averaged about 6.35 million viewers og:url: https://time.com/4413583/republican-national-convention-ratings-up-from-2012-after-first-night/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91e6329f45ae3b0c/69889c7e8e060152d3466be1/landon-nordeman-republican-national-convention-rnc-scenes-0718-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2569 og:image:height: 1445 og:image:alt: TIMEPOL RNC og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Republican Convention Ratings Up From 2012 After First Night twitter:description: Fox News averaged about 6.35 million viewers twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91e6329f45ae3b0c/69889c7e8e060152d3466be1/landon-nordeman-republican-national-convention-rnc-scenes-0718-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Republican National Convention Ratings Up From 2012 After First Night > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=bfa3b08a-1a8b-4078-95e0-b1fa8c5ef3d1&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Twice a week | time.com/newsletters, September 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=bfa3b08a-1a8b-4078-95e0-b1fa8c5ef3d1&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=bfa3b08a-1a8b-4078-95e0-b1fa8c5ef3d1&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=bfa3b08a-1a8b-4078-95e0-b1fa8c5ef3d1&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: The Perfect Discomfort of Melania Trump’s Convention Speech [Watch (HLS stream): The Perfect Discomfort of Melania Trump’s Convention Speech](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dBYuDa54.m3u8) (1:57)  _Published 2016-07-19. Melania Trump’s speech lay towards the end of a long evening of the Republican National Convention’s TV broadcast like the pot of gold at the end of—well, not a rainbow. Perhaps a minefield._ by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Jul 19, 2016 9:09 PM UTC  Scenes from the floor of the 2016 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Scenes from the floor of the 2016 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Jul 19, 2016 9:09 PM UTC The first day of the Republican National Convention allowed Fox News to beat its cable and broadcast news competitors on Monday night, and saw a rise in ratings compared to the convention four years ago. Fox News averaged about 5.50 million viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. Monday night, including 1.60 viewers who were adults between the ages of 25 and 54 during the 10 p.m. hour, [Politico reported](http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/07/ratings-rnc-night-one-delivers-big-win-for-fox-news-225807). In 2012, when Mitt Romney was the Republican presidential nominee, the network averaged 5.15 million viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. the first night, according to [Adweek](http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/during-night-one-of-rnc-fox-news-draws-more-viewers-than-any-other-network/144430). The network averaged about 6.35 million viewers during the 10 p.m. hour Monday night, a slight dip from 2012, when Fox News averaged 6.89 million viewers at 10 p.m. Despite the ratings bump, the convention’s first night drew mixed results. A speech by Trump’s wife Melania prompted accusations of plagiarism as critics said it [lifted lines from Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention speech](http://time.com/4412373/why-the-plagiarism-problem-matters/?xid=homepage). ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] [ APPLAUSE ] It is my great honor. To present the next First Lady of the United States, my wife, an amazing mother, an incredible woman, Melania Trump. thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. [ MUSIC ] Thank you very much. You have all been very kind to Donald and me. Donald has a great, and deep and unbounding determination. Donald is, and always has been an amazing leader. Yes, Donald thinks big Donald gets things done. Donald wants prosperity for all Americans. Donald intends to represent all the people. And most importantly, he will never, ever let you down. If I'm honored to serve as First Lady I will use that wonderful privilege to try to help people in our country who need it the most. Ladies and gentlemen Donald J. Trump. is ready to serve and lead. This country as the next president of the United States. [ SOUND ] [ APPLAUSE ] Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4413583/republican-national-convention-ratings-up-from-2012-after-first-night/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4413583/republican-national-convention-ratings-up-from-2012-after-first-night/"},"headline":"Republican National Convention Ratings Up From 2012 After First Night","datePublished":"2016-07-19T21:09:54.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:55:19.501Z","description":"Fox News averaged about 6.35 million viewers","url":"https://time.com/4413583/republican-national-convention-ratings-up-from-2012-after-first-night/","keywords":["Republican National Convention"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91e6329f45ae3b0c/69889c7e8e060152d3466be1/landon-nordeman-republican-national-convention-rnc-scenes-0718-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mahita Gajanan","jobTitle":"Gajanan is an editor at TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt91e6329f45ae3b0c/69889c7e8e060152d3466be1/landon-nordeman-republican-national-convention-rnc-scenes-0718-01.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TIMEPOL RNC","caption":"Scenes from the floor of the 2016 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland.","creditText":"Landon Nordeman for TIME","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/republican-national-convention/","name":"Republican National Convention"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4413583/republican-national-convention-ratings-up-from-2012-after-first-night/","name":"Republican National Convention Ratings Up From 2012 After First Night"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The Perfect Discomfort of Melania Trump’s Convention Speech","description":"Melania Trump’s speech lay towards the end of a long evening of the Republican National Convention’s TV broadcast like the pot of gold at the end of—well, not a rainbow. Perhaps a minefield.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/dBYuDa54/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-07-19T03:53:06.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dBYuDa54.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4413583/republican-national-convention-ratings-up-from-2012-after-first-night/","duration":"PT1M57S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4413583/republican-national-convention-ratings-up-from-2012-after-first-night/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```