Beijing Olympics Hit U.S. TV Milestone

NEW YORK, August 25: NBC Universal’s coverage of the Beijing
Summer Olympics pulled in 211 million viewers through the first 16 days, making
it the most-watched event in U.S. television history.

Viewership surpassed the 1996 Atlanta Games, which drew a
total of 209 million viewers. The 16-day prime-time average is 27.7 million,
11-percent ahead of Athens in 2004 (24.9 million). NBC’s average of a 16.2
rating and a 28 share is the best through the final Saturday for a Summer
Olympics outside the U.S. since Barcelona in 1992.

NBCU’s cable networks through 16 days reached 86 million, a
25-percent gain on the same coverage period of the Athens Games (69 million)
and more than the 17-day total viewership for any previous Olympics.

—By Kristin Brzoznowski