Record-Breaking Viewership Kicks Off The Games
The 2024 Olympics in Paris have ignited a fervor of excitement among viewers, propelling NBCUniversal to impressive ratings milestones. Across all platforms, NBCU has seen a staggering 80 percent increase in viewership compared to the Tokyo Games in 2021. This surge underscores the global enthusiasm for the Olympics and NBCUniversal's strategic broadcasting approach.
Soaring Numbers: A Breakdown of the Weekend's Viewership
Over the first three full days of the Paris Olympics, NBCUniversal has averaged 34.5 million viewers across its linear networks and digital platforms. This figure encapsulates "Paris Prime" (2-5 p.m. ET), a timeslot featuring live medal events, as well as U.S. primetime telecasts. The opening ceremony on Friday alone drew 28.6 million viewers, setting a strong precedent for the weekend.
Saturday's broadcasts captivated 32.4 million people, while Sunday saw a dramatic peak with 41.5 million viewers tuning in, bolstered by the debut competition of Simone Biles and the U.S. women's gymnastics team. These numbers are based on custom fast national ratings from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
Historical Comparisons and Digital Dominance
The 34.5 million viewer average marks a 79 percent rise from the 19.3 million average during the same period for the Tokyo Olympics. Although comparisons to past Olympics need to account for changes in how ratings are measured and NBCU's expanded streaming capabilities, the Paris games are showing favorable trends. For instance, the 2024 figures are close to the 35.13 million average from the 2012 London Olympics and exceed the 27.27 million average from the 2016 Rio Games.
Peacock, NBCU’s flagship streaming service, has played a pivotal role in this success. Sunday alone saw 6 million viewers on Peacock, making it the second biggest day in the platform’s history, just behind a significant NFL playoff streaming event. Overall, NBCU’s digital platforms, including Peacock, have already surpassed the total streaming minutes of the Tokyo Olympics, amassing 4.5 billion minutes by the end of the first weekend.
Major Events Drive Engagement
Key events have significantly contributed to these numbers. The U.S. men's basketball team's opening game, a commanding 110-84 victory over Serbia, garnered 10.9 million viewers on NBC and Peacock. This exceeded the viewership for the gold medal game in Tokyo, which had 9.3 million viewers. Similarly, the U.S. women's soccer team's 4-1 win against Germany averaged 4.2 million viewers on USA Network and Peacock, outpacing every soccer match from the past two summer Olympics.
The NBCUniversal Strategy
NBCUniversal’s strategic use of multiple platforms has clearly paid off. By leveraging both traditional linear networks and robust digital streaming options, they’ve ensured that the 2024 Olympics reach the widest possible audience. This approach, coupled with high-profile athletes and compelling storylines, has created a perfect storm for record-breaking viewership.
Conclusion: An Exciting Start with More to Come
The opening weekend of the Paris 2024 Olympics has demonstrated an exceptional appetite for the games, with NBCUniversal reaping the benefits of its comprehensive coverage strategy. As the events continue, it's likely that these numbers will maintain their upward trajectory, setting new benchmarks for Olympic broadcasting.
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Vertical Bar Media
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Source: Hollywood Reporter
Photo Credit: AI
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