Preliminary overnight numbers show that NBC gained a 30.0
rating and a 48 share for last night's prime time coverage.
Daytime figures were 8.8/28, and late night gained a 10/8/33.
NOTE: As these numbers are preliminary overnights, they may not
match later figures cited either by the network or other news
outlets (THE DAILY).
PRIME MONDAY: Monday night's prime-time earned a 23.0
national rating and a 40 share, a higher rating than any night of
coverage from Barcelona '92 or Seoul '88. It was also the
highest rated first-Monday Olympics telecast since Montreal '76.
The 23.0 rating was a 17% increase from the first Monday in
Barcelona and NBC Research estimates that 92 million watched all
or parts of the telecast. The cumulative Atlanta rating is a
21.8/41, 25% better than Barcelona through the same day. As for
female viewers on Monday, NBC gained a 15.6 rating among Women
18-34 (14.4 cumulative) and a 16.5 among Women 25-54 (16.1
cumulative). The ratings for Women 18-34 are up 41% from
Barcelona, while Women 25-54 are up 27%. Through three nights of
prime time coverage, NBC is averaging a 7.0/26 (NBC Sports).
MORE BREAKDOWNS: Dayparts for Monday night's coverage, from
Nielsen Sports Marketing Service (THE DAILY):
GROUP AGE RATING GROUP AGE RATING
ALL -- 23.0 WOM 18-49 15.5
MEN 18-34 12.3 WOM 25-54 16.5
MEN 18-49 13.4 WOM 55+ 18.7
MEN 25-54 14.7 CHILD 2-11 6.5
MEN 55+ 18.0 TEEN 11-17 10.2
WOM 18-34 15.6
RATINGS REAX: USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes the size of
the audiences has "stopped surprising people, but NBC's Atlanta
ratings continue to astound" (USA TODAY, 7/24). The PHILADELPHIA
DAILY NEWS notes NBC's investment "is showing early signs of
receiving two thumbs and two toes up" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 7/24).
N.Y. TIMES header: "NBC's Ratings Are Soaring" (N.Y. TIMES,
7/24). THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: "NBC runs rings around its
rivals" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/24).
STRONG IN CANADA, TOO: The CBC drew an average audience of
2.89 million for coverage of the Opening Ceremonies last Friday,
up from 1.52 million for Barcelona's opening (William Houston,
Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/24).
