The Olympics concluded on another low note for NBC.
Tape delayed coverage of the Rio Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony earned an 11.7 overnight rating on NBC Sunday night, the second-lowest primetime overnight of the Games (17 telecasts). Only the previous night’s coverage scored lower in the metered markets (10.6). Three of the four lowest Olympic overnights took place in the final weekend of competition, as is typical for the Summer Games.
Closing Ceremony overnights in 2012 and 2008 were not immediately available. Compared to the Closing Ceremony of the most recent Olympics, the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, overnights increased 23% from a 9.5.
Through Thursday, final ratings for NBC’s primetime Olympics coverage declined between 14% and 16% from the overnight, putting Sunday’s telecast on pace to finish in the 9.8 to 10.1 range. Prior to this year, the lowest rating ever for a primetime Summer Olympics telecast was 10.3 for the final Saturday of the Beijing Games.
(Sun. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
