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NBC Takes Home Olympic Gold in Primetime Ratings

August 8, 2012
By Greg Franzese

Despite some Internet grumblings over tape-delays, Nielsen has logged record ratings for NBC and the Olympics. In total, 18.8 percent of TV households and 34.9 million viewers tuned in to the tape-delayed opening ceremony, according to the research firm. The Olympics have shot the peacock network to the top of the charts. The viewership average for NBC has crushed the combined figures for the other six networks (Univision, Fox, CBS, ABC, Telemundo and CW). NBC paid $1.3 billion to broadcast the London Olympics in America.

While NBC's enjoying ratings success, Nielsen also points out that viewership's much higher when the Games take place at home. The most viewed opening ceremony by percentage of TV households was in 1984, when Los Angeles played host. The 1996 Atlanta games saw the highest number of viewers, with 40 million watching.
 
On the ad side of things, the average cost of a 30-second spot during the Games has increased from $155,000 in 1988 to $320,000 in 2008. These costs were not adjusted for inflation, and there was no figure available for 2012.
 
Posted in Online Video News
Tags online video, sports
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