new york 11.9 million americans watch thursday unusually restrain republican presidential debate cnn network say friday sharp drop 16.9 million tune last week republican contenders face much rowdy even thursday figure mark second-smallest audience republican presidential encounter since 2016 campaign debate begin august 2015 accord nielsen data people thursday tune popular cbs comedy big bang theory draw 14.5 million viewers watch debate miami rat data show cnn-hosted debate university miami come five days voters florida ohio determine whether u.s. senator marco rubio florida ohio governor john kasich able continue increasingly long-shot candidacies party nomination run nov. general election previous assault front-runner donald trump fail knock rubio u.s. senator ted cruz texas choose civil approach thursday raise question trump policy position without attack personally trump presence boost tv audiences presidential debate help attract record 24 million viewers first official out candidate august last year since however audiences drop raucous march republican encounter come close interest see last year democratic tv debate fare less well public struggle attract audiences 10 million since january report jill serjeant edit grant mccool matthew lewis article fund part sap independently create reuters editorial staff sap editorial involvement creation production 'big bang theory trump tv audience late republican debate