The final of the U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics trials scored a big jump over 2021, if no match for 2016. Plus: Copa America continues to trend up; the NHL Draft scored its second-largest audience.
Final of women’s gymnastics trials up from ’21, down from ’16
The women’s final of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials averaged 7.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock Sunday night — 7.1 million per Nielsen, plus a streaming audience of 537,000 measured by Adobe Analytics — up 30% from the COVID-delayed edition in 2021 (5.9M) but down from the last time it was held on-schedule in 2016 (8.6M).
In the seven Olympic years dating back to 2000, this year’s audience ranks a middle-of-the-road fourth behind 2016, 2012 (10.0M) and 2000 (11.0M), but ahead of 2021, 2008 (6.3M) and 2004 (5.8M). (Keep in mind out-of-home viewing was not tracked in Nielsen final estimates until 2020.)
The full U.S. Olympic Trials averaged 3.9 million across NBC and Peacock, up 24% from the COVID-delayed edition in 2021 (3.2M). Including USA Network, viewership increased 58% from ’21, though NBC did not disclose an actual viewership figure with the cable network included.
Copa America, Euros, viewership continues to rise
Coverage of Copa America was averaging 1.07 million viewers across FOX and FS1 through Friday, up more than 400 percent from 2021 (207K) and up 46% from 2016 (738K). On Friday, FS1 averaged 916,000 for Brazil-Paraguay and 749,000 for Colombia-Costa Rica, with Miami, Los Angeles and Boston the top three markets for both matches.
NHL Draft trails Bedard-fueled high; NHL Awards up opposite big competition
Friday’s opening round of the NHL Draft averaged a 0.28 rating and 502,000 viewers on ESPN, down from last year, when Connor Bedard was picked first overall, but still the second-most watched NHL Draft telecast on record.
On Thursday, the NHL Awards averaged a 0.17 and 282,000 — up from last year on TNT despite competition from a USMNT soccer match and presidential debate coverage.
