Can’t blame NBC about being bullish on the upcoming Olympics. With the U.S. Olympic Trials over, NBC is counting the ratings for gymnastics, swimming and track & field and they are good.
NBC won the primetime ratings thanks to swimming and gymnastics over the weekend. Having big names like Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin and Nastia Liukin helped to pace the numbers on Saturday and Sunday.
For Sunday, the gymnastics trials which decided the US Women’s Olympic team saw a 5.9 rating and just over 10 million viewers. Swimming had a 4.8 rating and a tick under 7.9 million viewers.
For its 7 consecutive nights of primetime coverage, the swimming trials in Omaha, NE averaged a 4.1 rating and over 6.3 million viewers.
Gymnastics in primetime Friday and Sunday received a 5.3 rating average and 8.9 million people.
This all outpaces the 2008 trials by wide margins.
We have the numbers from NBC.
NBC 2012 Olympic Trials Weekend Prime & To-Date Highlights
LAST WEEKEND
- Sunday, July 1 – Primetime Gymnastics earned the highest viewership (10.02 million) and household ratings (5.9) for any Summer Olympic Trials broadcast since NBC’s Gymnastics Trials on 8/20/00 (11.03 million & 7.2 household rating).
- Sunday, July 1 – Primetime Swimming Trials viewership (7.89 million) and household rating (4.8) were the best for any Swimming Trials on record (back to ’88) and 2nd best for any Summer Olympic Trials broadcast since 8/20/00.
- NBC won Saturday, June 30 & Sunday, July 1 in primetime Prime in A18-49, viewership and household rating.
TRIALS TO DATE – HISTORICAL
- NBC’s 7 Primetime Swim Trials broadcast averaged 6.63 million viewers and a household rating of 4.1, the best for a Swim Trials on record (back to ’88).
- NBC’s 2 Primetime Gymnastics Trials averaged 8.92 million viewers and household rating of 5.3, the best for a Gymnastics Trials since ’00 (9.80 million & 6.2 household rating.
- Through Sunday, NBC’s 13 primetime Olympic Trials broadcasts averaged 6.78 million viewers, the best since ’96 (8.64 million).
- Through Sunday, NBC’s 15 Overall Olympic Trials broadcasts averaged 5.68 million viewers, the best since ’92 (5.89 million). The household rating of 3.5 is the best since ’96 (3.8).
TRIALS TO DATE VS. 2008
- NBC’s 7 primetime Swim Trials broadcasts averaged 6.63 million viewers and a household rating of 4.1, up 74% & 71% respectively vs. the 2008 Swim Trials Primetime average (3.82 million & 2.4 household rating for two swimming-only broadcasts).
- NBC’s 2 primetime Gymnastics Trials broadcasts averaged 8.92 million viewers and household rating of 5.3, up 64% & 56% respectively vs. the 2008 Gymnastics Trials Primetime average (5.44 mill & 3.4 household rating for two broadcasts).
- Through Sunday, NBC’s 13 primetime Olympic Trials broadcasts averaged 6.78 million viewers, up 34% vs. the 2008 Primetime Trials (5.07 million for 8 broadcasts).
- Through Sunday, NBC’s 15 overall Olympic Trials broadcasts averaged 5.68 million and a household rating of 3.5, up 36% and 30% respectively vs. the 2008 Overall Trials Avg. (4.17 million and 2.7 household rating for 12 broadcasts).
That’s all.
