NBC must be seriously dreading the end of these Olympic games.
Coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics drew a 16.3/27 final rating and 26.6 million viewers on NBC Tuesday night, up 4% and 6% respectively from a a 15.7/26 and 25.0 million for the comparable night of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The 16.3 also marks a 31% increase from a 12.4 for the second Tuesday of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and a 3% increase from a 15.8 for the second Tuesday of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Among the top twenty U.S. television markets, Denver led the way with a 27.0/43, while Boston finished last with a 15.9/28. Top twenty markets that drew a 20.0 rating or higher include Washington, DC (20.9/35), Phoenix (20.7/34), Minneapolis/St. Paul (22.4/38), Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (20.0/28), and the aforementioned Denver (27.0/43).
Through twelve nights, NBC is averaging a 17.1/29 rating and 29.3 million viewers for its coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, up 8% and 12% from a 15.8/27 and 26.1 million through twelve nights of the 2004 Athens Olympics. The 17.1 rating also marks a 17% increase from the 14.6 twelve-day average for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
