Thomson Reuters
Republican U.S. presidential candidate businessman Donald Trump reacts during the second official Republican presidential candidates debate of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley
According to early numbers, the GOP debate scored a 4.7 household rating. That amounts to nearly 20 million viewers for the 3-hour event, according to TheWrap.
That's still about four million less viewers than the highly rated firstc GOP debate brought in to Fox News in August.
Thomson Reuters
Republican presidential candidate and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina speaks during the second official Republican presidential candidates debate of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley
CNN's three hour debate had created much buzz before it aired, because Republican candidate Donald Trump dared the news network to donate its proceeds to charity. CNN didn't respond to Trump's request.
The 3-hour debate included the ability for Trump's many opponents to address the the statements he has made about them over the course of his campaign so far.
The next Republican debate will air Wednesday, October 28 on CNBC.