On a night when none of NBC’s biggest stars won a gold medal, the network’s Olympic ratings hit another low.
Primetime coverage of the Rio Summer Olympics earned a 14.1 final rating and 24.3 million viewers on NBC Monday night, down 11% in ratings and 9% in viewership from London in 2012 (15.8, 26.6M) and down 11% and 8%, respectively, from Beijing in 2008 (15.8, 26.4M). Versus the comparable night of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, ratings increased 2% and viewership 3% from a 13.8 and 23.5 million.
The 14.1 rating is the lowest for the second Monday of the Summer Olympics since at least 1984, the second straight night that ratings have hit at least a 32-year low.
Ratings also hit a low among adults 18-49. NBC’s telecast earned a 7.0 in the demo, down 16% from 2012 (8.3), down 21% from 2008 (8.9), and the lowest for the second Monday since at least 1992.
Figures do not include the live streaming audience on NBCOlympics.com or the 948,000 viewers who watched concurrent primetime coverage on NBCSN. With streaming and cable included, Monday’s primetime coverage earned a 14.9 and 25.5 million, still ranking as the lowest rated second Monday since at least ’84.
Though low historically, Monday’s numbers still rank among the best for any sporting event this year. Only two non-NFL sporting events have earned a larger audience, Game 7 of the NBA Finals (31.0M) and the college football national championship (26.2M).
NBC’s telecast was measured from 8-11 PM ET, a period that included live track and field and taped gymnastics, but excluded the taped men’s diving that capped off the night. Of NBC’s ‘core four’ stars — Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Usain Bolt and Simone Biles — only Biles was featured Monday night, and she failed to win the gold in her balance beam competition.
Through 11 nights, the Rio Olympics has averaged a 15.3 rating and 27.5 million viewers on NBC alone — down 17% in ratings and viewership from London (18.5, 33.1M) and down 11% and 7%, respectively, from Beijing (17.2, 29.6M). Including cable and streaming, primetime coverage has averaged 29.5 million viewers, down 11% from London but down just a fraction of a percent from Beijing.
(Mon. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box)
