Michael Jackson Memorial Draws 31.1 Million Viewers

Us Magazine - July 8, 2009 2:22 PM PDT
Story photo: Michael Jackson Memorial Draws 31.1 Million ViewersMichael Jackson pays his respects to the late James Brown inin Augusta, GA on December 30, 2006. Rick Diamond/WireImageUs Magazine
Slightly more than 31 million people tuned in for Michael Jackson's Staples Center memorial service Tuesday.

The nearly three-hour service -- which included a touching speech from Jackson's daughter, Paris -- was aired on 18 channels. Combined viewership was slightly higher than American Idol.

See 32 photos from Jackson's Staples Center memorial.

According to Nielsen Media Research, 21 percent of all U.S. households with TV sets tuned in. Nielsen says that's about the same percentage of households that watched the not-guilty verdict in Jackson's 2005 sexual abuse trial.

In comparison, 33.2 million people watched Princess Diana's 1997 funeral, and nearly 38 million viewed President Obama's inauguration in January.

See photos Jackson and his kids through the years.

Nielsen SoundScan numbers also show that Jackson sold 800,000 albums last week -- nearly double the sales from the previous week.

Data from the week ending Sunday -- the first full week since Jackson died on June 25 -- show that Jackson claimed the entire Top 10 on the Top Catalog Album chart.


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  • delym
    get it together already,this has been going on ever sense m.j.pass away if u don't like listening to the media call them and tell them to shut the f**k up.go swimming,hiking,walking oh.don't forget your mp3 player or you can go to bed and get your groove on.all day long..................................
    report abuseposted July 8, 2009 7:25 PM PDT
  • Haizam
    nobody care about me
    report abuseposted July 8, 2009 4:28 PM PDT
  • Julia
    Marie, you are right most people were at work!! Michael united us all in life and death. My heart is still broken. My Angel, Moonwalker, Peter Pan, Magical Child, You will never be forgotten.
    report abuseposted July 8, 2009 3:10 PM PDT
  • Tyjuan
    WOW THAT IS AMAZING. WE LOVE YOU IN SAN FRANCISCO MIJ.... THEY DROVE YOU TO THE GRAVE THEY SCHOULD HAVE JUST LEAVE YOU ALONE. I HOPE YOU ARE IN PEACE NOW. I JUST HOPE THEY LEAVE YOUR KIDS ALONE. ILL BE DAM IF THEY START THAT BULL S**HIT UP. THOSE KIDS ARE OK WERE THEY ARE THEY ARE HURTING ENOUGH ALREADY. DEBBIE FAT A** NEEDS TO STAY AWAY LIKE THE HAS BEEN ALL THESE YEARS.
    report abuseposted July 8, 2009 3:07 PM PDT
  • Marie1
    He is an icon and will be missed. Most of the people had to work so lets look at Farrah's numbers. It's not a contest, these fans cared and that is what counts!
    report abuseposted July 8, 2009 2:57 PM PDT
  • Pari_Nicole
    Its not like viewers had much of a choice every freakin channel was showing it or talking about it. I loved MJ and I sincerely hopes he's resting in peace but all this hoopla and circus acting needs to stop already.
    report abuseposted July 8, 2009 2:43 PM PDT

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