For the first time, overnight ratings for the 2014 Sochi Olympics topped Vancouver in 2010.
Primetime coverage of the Winter Olympics earned a 14.5 overnight rating on NBC Tuesday night, up a tick from Vancouver in 2010 (14.4), and up 12% from Turin in 2006 (12.9). The comparable night of the most recent Olympics — London in 2012 — earned a 24.0 overnight.
Tuesday’s primetime window was the first of the Olympics to have an increase in overnights over Vancouver. Keep in mind that Sunday’s final rating topped Vancouver — but the overnight was down 5%.
Minneapolis was the top market for primetime coverage, with a 21.8 rating. Salt Lake City (21.0), Denver (18.6), Milwaukee (18.3) and Austin, TX (17.7) rounded out the top five.
In other Olympic action Tuesday, NBCSN averaged a 0.9 overnight for its live coverage — up “at least 50%” from 2012, according to NBC.
(Tue. numbers from NBC Sports)
