The Winter Olympics were up significantly from 2006, but still drew low numbers by historical standards.
Evening coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics averaged a 13.8/23 rating and 24.4 million viewers on NBC, up 13% in ratings and 21% in viewership from 2006 (Turin; 12.2/19, 20.2 mil).
Though up from 2006, the 13.8 average rating for the Winter Games marks a 28% drop from 2002 (Salt Lake City; 19.2/31), a 15% drop from 1998 (Nagano; 16.3/26), and a whopping 50% drop from 1994 (Lillehammer; 27.8/42).
The Vancouver Olympics ranks as the third-lowest rated Winter Olympics in primetime since 1960, ahead of only 2006 and 1968 (Grenoble; 13.5/23).
That said, the 24.4 million viewers for Winter Olympics still puts it ahead of other high profile sporting events, including the 2009 World Series (19.4 mil), the 2010 Bowl Championship Series (19.2 mil), the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four (14.9 mil), the 2009 NBA Finals (14.3 mil), and the 2010 Daytona 500 (13.3 mil).
For perspective, the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics averaged a 16.2/28 and 27.7 million viewers.
Ratings/viewership For Each Night of Vancouver Olympics
*: Opening Ceremony; **: Closing Ceremony
With comparisons to 2006 and 2002
| Night | Vancouver | Turin | Salt Lake City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rtg | Viewers (000) | Rtg | Viewers (000) | Rtg | Viewers (000) | |
| Fri* |
17.3/30
|
32,641
|
12.8/21
|
22,174
|
25.5/42
|
45,562
|
| Sat |
14.0/25
|
26,189
|
13.5/23
|
23,239
|
17.1/30
|
29,409
|
| Sun |
14.3/23
|
26,372
|
13.3/20
|
23,224
|
17.6/27
|
30,201
|
| Mon |
14.2/22
|
25,224
|
12.8/19
|
21,069
|
19.6/30
|
31,528
|
| Tue |
12.2/19
|
20,330
|
11.3/18
|
18,405
|
18.5/29
|
29,762
|
| Wed |
16.7/27
|
29,416
|
11.3/18
|
17,867
|
17.5/28
|
27,425
|
| Thu |
14.5/24
|
24,782
|
11.9/19
|
19,378
|
17.6/29
|
28,183
|
| Fri |
13.4/23
|
23,304
|
11.2/19
|
18,928
|
15.8/27
|
25,883
|
| Sat |
14.7/26
|
26,668
|
11.3/19
|
19,673
|
14.0/25
|
24,116
|
| Sun |
13.2/21
|
23,294
|
11.6/18
|
19,238
|
17.1/26
|
28,413
|
| Mon |
12.5/20
|
20,926
|
13.6/21
|
22,482
|
17.1/26
|
26,482
|
| Tue |
12.6/20
|
21,279
|
15.5/23
|
25,079
|
22.3/34
|
36,739
|
| Wed |
11.9/19
|
19,808
|
10.0/15
|
16,007
|
19.5/31
|
31,979
|
| Thu |
13.6/23
|
22,920
|
15.8/24
|
25,723
|
26.8/41
|
43,311
|
| Fri |
13.9/24
|
24,500
|
9.7/17
|
15,932
|
17.7/31
|
29,157
|
| Sat |
11.7/21
|
20,600
|
9.7/17
|
16,544
|
15.7/27
|
27,071
|
| Sun** |
12.1/19
|
21,400
|
8.9/13
|
14,837
|
22.3/33
|
38,738
|
