The 2010 Vancouver Olympics got off to an impressive start for NBC.
The Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics drew a 17.3/30 final rating and 32.6 million viewers on NBC Friday night, up 35% in ratings and 47% in viewership from Turin in 2006 (12.8/21, 22.2 mil), but down 32% and 29%, respectively, from Salt Lake City in 2002 (25.5/42, 45.6 mil).
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed non-U.S. Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics since Lillehammer in ’94 (20.9/34, 33.8 mil, CBS).
The Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics drew an 18.8/34 and 34.9 million.
Friday’s telecast drew its highest ratings in the Mountain and Pacific time zones, despite airing on tape delay in both.
Seattle — just a couple of hours away from Vancouver — was the top local market, with a 25.9/47. Following Seattle was Milwaukee (25.8/43), Denver (25.4/44) and St. Louis (23.7/40).
Despite the strong numbers, the Opening Ceremony was not quite as big of a draw as the National Football League. Seven NFL playoff games, including the Super Bowl, drew a larger audience than Friday’s Opening Ceremony.
Ratings for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics since ’84
Includes both Summer and Winter Olympics
| Year | Date | Games | Site | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Fri., 2/12/10 | Winter | Vancouver | NBC |
17.3/30
|
| 2008 | Fri., 8/8/08 | Summer | Beijing | NBC |
18.8/34
|
| 2006 | Fri., 2/10/06 | Winter | Turin | NBC |
12.8/21
|
| 2004 | Fri., 8/13/04 | Summer | Athens | NBC |
14.4/26
|
| 2002 | Fri., 2/8/02 | Winter | Salt Lake City | NBC |
25.5/42
|
| 2000 | Fri., 9/15/00 | Summer | Sydney | NBC |
16.2/29
|
| 1998 | Sat., 2/7/98 | Winter | Nagano | CBS |
17.1/29
|
| 1996 | Fri., 7/19/96 | Summer | Atlanta | NBC |
23.6/45
|
| 1994 | Sat., 2/12/94 | Winter | Lillehammer | CBS |
20.9/34
|
| 1992 | Sat., 7/25/92 | Summer | Barcelona | NBC |
13.8/29
|
| 1992 | Sat., 2/8/92 | Winter | Albertville | CBS |
14.5/24
|
| 1988 | Sat., 9/17/88 | Summer | Seoul | NBC |
15.2/29
|
| 1988 | Sat., 2/13/88 | Winter | Calgary | ABC |
14.4/35
|
| 1984 | Sat., 7/28/84 | Summer | Los Angeles | ABC |
23.9/48
|
| 1984 | Tue., 2/7/84 | Winter | Sarajevo | ABC |
17.2/27
|
