This in from NBC. For the 6th out of a possible 6 nights, NBC says it has increased ratings for the 2012 London Olympics as compared to the Beijing Games four years ago.
NBC received a 17.9 rating with a 30 share. That’s better than the 16.7/28 in Beijing for the first Wednesday night of the Olympics. Average viewership for Wednesday night was an impressive 30.8 million. Wednesday’s numbers are down from Tuesday’s viewership which had a rating of 21.8/35 and a whopping 38.7 million viewers.
With a successful day in gymnastics and swimming today, I expect tonight’s numbers to be very big.
And the top local market through six nights you ask? Why it’s Salt Lake City. Check out the numbers.
LONDON OLYMPICS POST 6TH STRAIGHT NIGHT OF VIEWERSHIP AND RATINGS GAINS OVER 2008 BEIJING GAMES
30.8 Million Viewers Last Night is 4th Straight Night of London Olympics with More than 30 Million Viewers, and 5th in 6 Nights
Viewership is Most for the First Wednesday for any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 Years
34.8 Million Average Viewers and a 19.3/32 Household Rating for the First 6 Nights of the London Olympics is Most for any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 Years
17.9 Household Rating Tops First Wednesday Night from Both Beijing and Athens
7.3 Million Watch NBC’s Daytime Show; 6.3 Million Tune in to Late NightLONDON – August 2, 2012 – Each night of the 2012 London Olympics to date have drawn higher viewership and household ratings than the first six nights of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics, the last European Summer Olympics, according to official national data provided by The Nielsen Company.
Last night’s coverage, which featured two more gold medals in the pool for the U.S. (Nathan Adrian in the 100m freestyle and the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay), and Danell Leyva taking bronze for the U.S. in the men’s gymnastics all-around, drew 30.8 million viewers, the most-watched first Wednesday of any non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 years (Montreal 1976).
- The average viewership of 30.8 million is 3.1 million more than the first Wednesday of the Beijing Olympics (27.7 million viewers), and 2.4 million more than the first Wednesday of the Athens Olympics (28.4 million viewers).
- Through the first Wednesday of the London Olympics, NBC is averaging 34.8 million viewers, the most of any non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The 34.8 million is 4.0 million more viewers than Beijing (30.8 million) and 8.6 million more than Athens (26.2 million).
Last night’s primetime coverage on NBC (8-11:26 p.m. ET/PT) earned a 17.9/30 national rating/share, seven percent higher than the first Wednesday night of the Beijing Olympics (16.7/28), and three percent higher than the first Wednesday night in Athens in 2004 (17.3/29), the last European Summer Olympics.
- The six-night average household rating of 19.3/32 is the highest for any non-U.S. Summer Olympics through the first Wednesday since the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The average rating is 10 percent higher than Beijing (17.6/30) and 23 percent higher than Athens (15.7/27).
NBC’S DAYTIME AND LATE NIGHT VIEWERSHIP SOARS:
- NBC’s daytime coverage yesterday drew and average 7.3 million viewers and a household rating/share of 5.2/15 (10 a.m.-5p.m. ET/PT). There is no direct comparison to any past Olympics.
- For Beijing, the 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET/PT daytime program drew an average of 6.0 million viewers and had a household rating/share of 4.4/14.
- In Athens, the 12:30-4 p.m. ET/PT program drew an average of 4.9 million viewers and had a household rating/share of 3.8/12.
- The late night program (12:40-1:25 a.m. ET/PT) drew 6.3 million viewers, 59% higher than the comparable night in Beijing (4.0 million). The household rating of 4.4/14 is 52% higher than the same night in Beijing (2.9/15).
SIX-NIGHT METERED MARKET AVERAGE:
1. Salt Lake City: 27.3/48
2. Kansas City: 25.4/42
3. Denver: 25.2/47
4. Milwaukee: 25.1/41
T5. San Diego: 24.3/43
T5. Columbus: 24.3/40
7. Indianapolis: 24.2/41
T8. Norfolk: 23.4/37
T8. Richmond: 23.4/37
T10. West Palm Beach: 22.7/38
T10. Albuquerque: 22.7/37
T12. Minneapolis: 22.5/42
T12. Oklahoma City: 22.5/36
14. Washington: 22.3/40
15. Austin: 22.2/39
16. Nashville: 22.0/34
T17. Sacramento: 21.9/40
T17. St. Louis: 21.9/36
T17. Portland: 21.9/44
T17. Ft. Myers: 21.9/39
Once again, an increase in the numbers for NBC. With gymnastics and swimming coming to an end this weekend, we’ll see if track and field can sustain the ratings as the Olympics heads into its second week.
