NBC drew its second-lowest rating of the Olympics, but also avoided a third straight night of decreasing ratings in the process.
Coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics averaged a 15.2/28 final rating and 25.6 million viewers on Friday night, the second lowest totals of the Olympics, but up 6% and 8% from a 14.4/27 and 23.7 million for the first Friday of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The 15.2/28 also marks a 2% increase over a 14.9/27 for the first Friday of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Through eight nights, NBC is averaging a 17.3 rating for the Olympics, up 9% from a 15.9 for the first eight nights of the 2004 Athens Games, and up 18% from a 14.7 through eight nights of the 2000 Sydney Games.
