More than 10 million viewers tuned in to BBC channels to watch cyclist Chris Hoy collect a record-breaking sixth Gold Medal during the final night of competition on the London Games cycling track Tuesday, according to Mark Sweney of the London GUARDIAN. Great Britain's Laura Trott's second cycling Gold Medal attracted 8.2 million viewers, while teammate Victoria Pendleton's last Olympic ride drew 9.4 million. However, the BBC's "biggest five-minute peak audience" on Tuesday came later in the evening when 12.1 million watched Australian Sally Pearson take Gold in the women's 110m hurdles. The biggest five-minute peak audience for cycling was the 9.8 million who watched Hoy's "emotional ceremony" from 6:30pm after the 36-year-old won the keirin. A peak of 9.4 million viewers tuned in at 5:55pm on BBC1 and BBC Olympics 3 as Pendleton took Silver in the women's sprint, losing to Australian rival Anna Meares (GUARDIAN, 8/8).
AUSTRALIA'S NINE PERFORMS: In Sydney, Michael Bodey reported that Nine’s Olympics coverage from London "continues to perform" with 1.7 million viewers tuning in for Tuesday's evening coverage, which included the men's triathlon final. The early evening session had 1.7 million viewers and the late night session had 764,000 viewers, in a time slot in which Nine "traditionally does very poorly." Ratings for Pearson’s Gold Medal win in the 100m hurdles "won’t be available" until Thursday as the ratings day concludes at 2am in Australia (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/8).
GERMANY ON TRACK: QUOTENMETER.de's Jan Schlüter reported that "more than 6 million people watched Tuesday's track and field events." ZDF's day-long broadcast of Olympics track and field gained the "day's top rating." An average of 6.4 million viewers or 28.1% tuned in to ZDF's coverage that started at 11am CEST. In the marketing relevant age group 14-49, 2.2 million viewers or 25.9% watched German discuss thrower Robert Harting win the Gold Medal. In addition, 7.5 million viewers or 27.2% watched the Olympic weightlifting competition at 8:09pm. In the target group the market share was 23.9%. Triathlon, which aired at 12:28pm, attracted 2.63 million viewers or 27,8%. Less popular were field hockey and beach volleyball. The two sports gained at 11:03pm and 11:57pm, respectively, 2,45 million and 1.55 million viewers. Those numbers translate into a market share of 15,7% and 17.2%, respectively (QUOTENMETER.de, 8/8).
FRANCE: LE PARISIEN reported that France 3's Tuesday broadcast of the London Games had an average audience of 3.8 million people and a 25.2% share (LE PARISIEN, 8/8).
