More than 80 million viewers tune in to all-star telethon for Haitian earthquake victims

More than 80 million see Haiti aid telethon

LOS ANGELES — More than 80 million people tuned in for last week’s all-star “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon.

The Nielsen Co. said Monday that an estimated 83 million people saw at least a brief part of the fundraiser carried Friday on 33 TV networks. The audience watching the two-hour event at any given time averaged 24 million viewers.

Organizers for the telethon said it’s raised $57 million, with more donations still to come in.

The event, which also streamed live online, featured Brad Pitt, Beyonce, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and other stars who encouraged donations for Haiti, hit by a devastating Jan. 12 earthquake that killed an estimated 200,000 people.

Money was also being raised by the sale of telethon performances via iTunes.

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On the Net:

www.hopeforhaitinow.org