With double the networks covering this year’s election results as in 2004, viewership saw a hefty increase.

Some 71.5 million total viewers tuned in across 14 broadcast and cable networks from 8 to 11 p.m., according to Nielsen data issued last night, up 30 percent from the 55.1 million who tuned in to the seven major broadcast and cable news networks four years ago on election night.

The 2004 number did not include viewers for Spanish-language networks Univision, Telefutura and Telemundo, which at that point were measured on a separate Nielsen index. The company has since begun using the same measurement for Spanish- and English-language networks.

In addition to the Big Four and MSNBC, CNN and Fox News Channel, Tuesday’s number includes Univision, Telemundo, BBC America, BET, CNBC, TV One and WGN.

ABC led all networks with 13.1 million viewers, down slightly from 13.2 million four years ago. CNN continued its hot streak this election, coming in second overall with 12.3 million viewers, by far the best numbers for any cable channel and roughly double its 2004 average.

NBC was third this year with 12 million viewers, 3.2 million fewer than the network drew in 2004 with outgoing anchor Tom Brokaw.

All three of the cable news networks finished ahead of Fox. Fox News Channel, which had a separate feed from the broadcast network, was fourth with 9 million viewers, 900,000 more than the last election.

CBS, which has also changed anchors since the previous election, also declined, from 9.54 million to 7.8 million.

MSNBC, which finished sixth overall, had the biggest increase percentage-wise, 111 percent, going from 2.8 million in 2004 to 5.9 million. Fox was seventh with 5.1 million viewers, up from 4.7 million in 2004.

Univision led the Spanish-language channels with 4.1 million viewers, with Telemundo averaging 790,000.

The first-time carriers had significantly fewer viewers. BET averaged 438,000, CNBC had 391,000, BBC America had 224,000, WGN had 115,000 and TV One had 88,000.

Overall, the 14 networks averaged a 41.5 household rating, up from a 34.5 for the Big Seven four years ago.

Viewership was also up from the disputed election of 2000, when the Big Seven averaged a 40.2 rating and 61.6 million viewers.

Meanwhile, Comedy Central also saw a big viewership jump from 2004 for its one-hour 10 p.m. special, “Indecision 2008: America’s Choice.” The program, hosted by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, averaged 3.1 million total viewers, up 45 percent from a 2004 “Daily Show” special.