NEW YORK (AP) – Political combat continues to hold the interest of television viewers, with Monday’s Democratic debate on CNN setting a standard as most-watched debate ever in cable news.

An estimated 4.9 million people watched Monday’s show from South Carolina, which featured contentious exchanges between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It eclipsed CNN’s Nov. 28 debate with Republican candidates, which had nearly 4.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Cable still doesn’t have the reach of broadcast TV, however: ABC’s prime-time Democratic debate on Jan. 5 before the New Hampshire primary was seen by 9.36 million people, Nielsen said.

Seven of the 10 most-watched primary debates in cable TV history are from this election cycle. Such debates have been shown on cable TV since 1996.