The Democratic presidential debate Feb. 19 on NBC was the most watched Democratic debate ever, said NBC. Featuring candidate Michael Bloomberg, the debate averaged 19.7 million viewers on NBC and MSNBC from 9 to 11 p.m. ET, with 5.3 million viewers 25-54 and 4.3 million in 18-49.

The previous high mark for Democratic debate was the 18 million that watched the first Democrat clash on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo in June.

This week’s debate attracted 13.5 million live-stream viewers, according to NBC, and nearly 22 million video views across all platforms, including NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, Facebook and YouTube. The digital streams translate to an average audience of 417,000 viewers, according to the network.

NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt, NBC News political director Chuck Todd, NBC News chief White House correspondent Hallie Jackson, Noticias Telemundo senior correspondent Vanessa Hauc and Jon Ralston of the Nevada Independent moderated.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN), Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA) took part in the debate. Bloomberg took some lumps in his first presidential debate. 

CBS’ Democratic Presidential Debate dominated social media chatter surrounding television shows Saturday night while the UFC 193 pay-per-view event was the most tweeted sports event of the day, according to Nielsen.

The Democratic Debate drew 815,000 tweets reaching an unduplicated audience of 4.9 million viewers to top all entertainment-based shows Saturday night, according to Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings Daily report. NBC’s Saturday Night Live drew 25,000 tweets to finished second, followed by cable shows Doctor Who (BBC America) and Ash vs. Evil Dead (Starz) and CBS’ 48 Hours.

RELATED:Interest in the presidential race is driving ratings for the big news networks -- and the niche nets, as well; click here (subscription required).

The UFC 193 PPV event, which featured Holly Holm’s upset knockout over UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, pinned down 927,000 tweets reaching more than 6 million unique Twitter users to top three ABC and one CBS college football telecasts for the most social media sports event of the day, according to Nielsen.

TBS, led by its Major League Baseball post-season coverage, hit a ratings home run last week, according to Nielsen.

The network was the most watched cable service in primetime during the week of Oct. 12 through Oct. 18, averaging 4.6 million viewers – much of that coming on the strength of its MLB playoffs coverage. TBS is currently on a record ratings pace for for its post-season baseball coverage, averaging 5.9 million viewers.

ESPN was second with 3.2 million viewers, followed by CNN, which averaged 2.2 million watchers for the week -- due in large part to its Oct. 13 coverage of the Democratic Presidential debate, which drew more than 15 million viewers.

Disney Channel finished fourth with 1.6 million viewers, followed by a fifth place tie between Fox News and USA Network, each averaging 1.5 million viewers.

AMC and Discovery Channel (tied with 1.3 million viewers); HGTV (1.2 million) and History and FX (tied with 1.1 million) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

TBS was also the top cable network on a 24-hour basis, as well as among key demos including advertiser-coveted adults 18-49, said Nielsen.

Most Watched Shows For Week Of Oct. 12 to Oct. 18

DateTelecastNetworkTotal Viewers

10/13           Nevada Democratic Presidential Debate                     CNN                15.7 million

10/13           Democratic Presidential Debate Pre-Show                  CNN                12.6 million

10/13           Democratic Presidential Debate Post-Show                CNN                12.6 million

10/18           The Walking Dead                                                        AMC                12.1 million

10/12           MNF – Pittsburgh-San Diego                                       ESPN               12.1 million

10/17           MLB NLCS – Chicago Cubs-N.Y. Mets (Gm. 1)          TBS                   7.8 million     

10/17           College Football –Michigan St.-Michigan                    ESPN                 7.3 million

10/15           MLB NLDS – L.A. Dodgers – New York Mets             TBS                   7.3 million

10/17           College Football – Florida-LSU                                   TBS                   6.7 million

10/18           MLB NLCS – Chicago Cubs-N.Y. Mets (Gm. 2)          TBS                   6.5 million

Source: Nielsen

CNN’s Democratic Debate was sizzling on social media last night, drawing nearly 3 million tweets, according to Nielsen.

The Oct. 13 debate drew 2.8 million tweets reaching a unique audience of 8.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen Twitter TV ratings. Overall viewership ratings for the debate will be released later today.

BET’s Hip Hop Awards also made some noise in the social media space, generating 723,000 tweets across 5.5 million unique Twitter users.  

ESPN’s 30 For 30 special was the third most popular show on social media last night, reaching 1.1 million Twitter users with 28,000 Tweets. Fox broadcasting’s Scream Queens and NBC’s The Voice rounded out the top five, according to Nielsen.