London Olympics, Euro 2012 Dominate U.K. TV Ratings, Eight Events In Top 10

In the U.K., coverage of the London 2012 Olympics and Euro 2012 "dominates the list of the most-popular TV programmes of the year ahead of the usual chart toppers, including The X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and Downton Abbey," according Tara Conlan of the London GUARDIAN. The Olympic Closing Ceremony on Aug. 12 "was the most-watched programme of the year, with an average audience of 24.5 million viewers," despite a mixed critical reception, just ahead of Dir Danny Boyle's "widely acclaimed Opening Ceremony on July 27 (24.2 million)." BBC1's live coverage of the Closing Ceremony "attracted a bigger average audience than any U.K. TV show for more than 30 years" (GUARDIAN, 12/12).

Most-Viewed TV Programs in the U.K. in '12
Rank	Channel	Program	Viewers in Millions	Share	Date	Time
1.	BBC1	Olympics 2012: Closing Ceremony	24.5	79%	Aug. 12	9pm-12:17am
2.	BBC1	Olympics 2012: Opening Ceremony	24.2	81%	July 27	9pm-12:51am
3.	BBC1	Euro 2012: England vs. Italy	20.3	65%	June 24	7:41pm-10:24pm
4.	BBC1	Olympics 2012: Men’s 100m final	17.3	59%	Aug. 5	9:42pm-10:15pm
5.	ITV1	Euro 2012: England vs. Ukraine	16.3 (incl. 100,000 on ITV1 +1)	57%	June 19	7:44pm-9:38pm
6.	BBC1	The Diamond Jubilee Concert	15.3	55%	June 4	7:29pm-10:49pm
7.	BBC1	Euro 2012: Sweden vs. England	14.2	53%	June 15	8pm-9:41pm
8.	BBC1	Olympics 2012: Women’s 400m final	13.6	50%	Aug. 5	6:52pm-9:41pm
9.	ITV1	Britain’s Got Talent	13.1 (incl. 600,000 on ITV1 +1)	49%	May 12	7:20pm-10pm
10.	ITV1	Euro 2012: France v England	12.6 (incl. 100,000 on ITV1 +1)	57%	June 11	5pm-6:51pm