PBS.org
A PBS release said the gross audience for "The War" debut was an estimated 18.7 million. LAT's
Scott Collins noted that the "gross audience" figure counted any viewer who watched at least six minutes of the program, "a technique that invariably plumps the final tally." The more commonly used "total viewer" figure was in fact 7.3 million. "PBS, in my view, should have been more straightforward about its first ratings statement dealing with this very high-profile, high-stakes series," writes ombud
Michael Getler.