Friday's Opening Ceremony sets an Olympic record for TV viewers

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER NBC paid a lot of money to televise the London Summer Olympics and at least for one night that was money well spent. Friday's coverage of the opening ceremonies attracted an average of 40.0 million viewers, which is nearly 6 million more than the Beijing Olympics and 15 million more than Athletes. It is the best viewersship for any non-U.S. Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony ever. and it was the highest-rated Friday night on any network in a decade. Here's the release from NBC: LONDON – July 28, 2012 – In the more than 50 years of televised Olympics, NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics (8 p.m. – 12:02 a.m. ET/PT) is the MOST-WATCHED for a Summer Games on record with 40.7 million average viewers, topping the Atlanta Games (39.8 million). Last night’s viewership is nearly six million more than the 2008 Beijing Olympics (34.9 million) and 15 million more than the 2004 Athens Olympics (25.4 million), the last European Olympics. NBC SPORTS GROUP CHAIRMAN MARK LAZARUS: “This audience number for the London Opening Ceremony is a great early sign that our strategy of driving people to watch NBC in primetime is working. We look forward to the next 16 nights of compelling Olympic competition.” The Opening Ceremony on NBC earned a 21.0/37 national rating/share, the best for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics ever, and the second best for a non-U.S. Games (Summer or Winter) in 36 years – since Innsbruck in 1976 (23.2/37). Last night’s Opening Ceremony national rating of 21.0/37 is 12 percent higher than Beijing in 2008 (18.8/34) and 44 percent higher than Athens in 2004 (14.6/27). The 21.7 rating for last night was the highest-rated Friday night on any network since the Opening Ceremony of the Salt Lake City Games (25.2 on Feb. 8, 2002). OPENING CEREMONY AVERAGE VIEWERS (ALL SUMMER GAMES ON RECORD): 1. London – 2012 40.7 Million NBC 2. Atlanta – 1996 39.8 Million NBC 3. Beijing - 2008 34.9 Million NBC 4. Sydney – 2000 27.3 Million NBC 5. Athens – 2004 25.4 Million NBC 6. Seoul – 1988 22.7 Million NBC 7. Barcelona – 1992 21.6 Million NBC NON-U.S. OPENING CEREMONY NATIONAL RATING (SUMMER GAMES) 1. London – 2012 21.0/37 NBC 2. Beijing – 2008 18.8/34 NBC 3. Rome – 1960 18.1/36 CBS 4. Sydney – 2000 16.2/29 NBC 5. Seoul – 1988 15.2/29 NBC 6. Athens – 2004 14.6/27 NBC 7. Barcelona – 1992 13.8/29 NBC 8. Montreal – 1976 11.1/39 ABC 9. Mexico City - 1968 8.8/34 ABC 10. Munich – 1972 6.5/28 ABC 11. Tokyo – 1964 5.6/14 ABC TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR OPENING CEREMONY: 1. San Diego 27.8/49 T2. Washington D.C. 26.8/48 T2. West Palm Beach 26.8/48 4. Salt Lake City 26.6/50 5. Denver 26.4/51 6. Norfolk 26.3/42 7. Sacramento 25.4/47 T8. Kansas City 25.0/44 T8. Richmond 25.0/41 10. Columbus 24.9/43 T11. Boston 24.8/45 T11. Indianapolis 24.8/45 13. Seattle 24.4/48 14. Los Angeles 24.2/44 15. Atlanta 24.1/39 T16. Philadelphia 24.0/40 T16. Jacksonville 24.0/39 T18. Austin 23.9/44 T18. Ft. Myers 23.9/43 20. Portland