Last Friday’s presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain drew 57 million viewers, according to early Nielsen estimates - well below the record debate in 1980 between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.

Though Friday night's Presidential debate was expected to pull record numbers, it didn't even make the top 10 most-watched debates in history, points out Media Life (via MediaBuyerPlanner). That comes as a surprise, considering both candidates’ acceptance speeches drew record numbers. The numbers will adjust, however, when actual ratings are released — and are expected to rise, perhaps significantly, when time-shifted viewing via DVRs is added in.

In terms of percentage, St. Louis was the most tuned-in, with 82 percent of the viewing audience watched the debate. ABC led other networks hosting the debates, attracting an average of 9.8 million total viewers.

The next Presidential debate occurs Oct. 7. The Vice Presidential debate happens this Thursday.