Jacko’s funeral beats Diana's record!

King of Pop Michael Jackson’s funeral attracted more than 31 million TV viewers, making it the second most watched funeral after Princess Diana’s.

Pop icon Michael Jackson’s memorial service in Los Angeles was watched on television by more than 31 million people in the US, data by Nielsen Media Research said.

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The two-hour event was carried live on 19 networks, including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Headline News, E!, MTV, VH1, TV Guide Network, and TV ONE.

While Jackson’s memorial had fewer viewers at 31,140,882 as compared to those for Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997 and President Obama’s inauguration in January, he was “undoubtedly one of the most well-known figures in the world and his death has drawn significant attention”, Nielsen said.

Princess Diana’s funeral was watched by 33.2 million people while President Obama’s inauguration had an audience of nearly 38 million, the marketing and media information company said.

However, Jackson’s memorial at Staples Centre was watched by more viewers than the 20.8 million people who saw President Reagan’s funeral on TV and the 15 million who watched President Ford’s funeral.