NBC Sees Most-Watched Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Ever
Updated: 40.7 million total viewers up 17% over 2008 Beijing Games
By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/28/2012 11:18:19 AM
Updated: 10:40 a.m. PTNBC's broadcast of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony from London was the most-watched opening ceremony for a Summer Games ever, averaging 40.7 million total viewers from 8 p.m. to midnight on Friday, according to Nielsen fast nationals.
The viewership was up 17% over the 2008 Beijing Games, which averaged 34.9 million viewers, and 2% higher than the 39.8 million viewers who watched the 1996 Atlanta opening ceremony.
London's opening ceremony also earned a 21.0 national household rating, the best for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics opening ceremony. The rating was up 12% up over Beijing's 18.8 rating and 44% higher than Athens' 14.6 rating in 2004.
Talkback
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The Today people TALKED to much on the open Ceremony, it would have been GREAT to listen to the music instead of the talking, this is the reason I DON'T WATCH NBC TO BEGEN WITH. BTW I worked for GE in the 70's and I'am still waiting for my retirement money.
Kenneth Byers - 7/30/2012 12:46:41 AM EDT -
I watched, and thought the Opening Ceremony was good. Seeing Muhammad Ali making a surprise appearance is one of the highlights of the games. Other highlights being the Queen's enterance... and the 7 young athletes lighting the cauldron, instead of an Olympic icon.
Istanbul, Madrid, and Tokyo are on the short-list for 2020. I could picture New York City placing a bid for the 2024 games, and hopefully making the short-list.
Eric - 7/28/2012 8:24:00 PM EDT
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