Driven by gold for Michael Phelps and the women gymnastics team, NBC's prime-time coverage of the Summer Olympics Tuesday hit a new high in overnight ratings topping those earned by the record-setting opening ceremonies.
And maybe it's me, but the complaints in social media didn't seem quite as loud yesterday.
Or, maybe they were just drowned out by Phelps becoming the most decorated athlete in Olympics history.
I know I saw both Phelps events and some of the women gymnastics on live stream in real time Tuesday afternoon, but still wound up watching the tape-delay version through prime time. I wonder how many other viewers are doing that.
Here's the overnight notes from NBC Sports. With the margin this close, the opening ceremonies might wind up edging Tuesday out as the most watched night of the Olympics when the final numbers are in. But either way, Tuesday's numbers are still huge.
Again, Baltimore did not make the Top 20, which I still find puzzling despite Dan Joerres, WBAL-TV's general manager, telling me it's no big deal. Maybe not, but with Phelps evening of glory, you would think a higher percentage of viewers in Baltimore would be watching than, say, those in Washington.
But as you can see from the figures below, Washington finished 12th in percentage of viewing.
Last night NBC drew a 24.0 overnight rating and 38 share (8-11:45 p.m. ET/PT), the best overnight rating for the London Olympics to date, topping the Opening Ceremony by 4% (23.0/40).
Last night’s overnight rating is the best for the first Tuesday night of any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics in history.
The 24.0/38 Overnight Rating 4% higher than Beijing (23.0/37, 12% higher than Athens (21.5/33), the Last European Olympics.
Tuesday’s broadcast included: Michael Phelps becomes the most decorated Olympian ever, earning his 18th and 19th medals last night (silver in the 200m butterfly and gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay), and the “Golden Girls” (USA women’s team) brought home gymnastics gold!
OVERNIGHTS FOR FIRST TUESDAY NIGHT (NON-U.S. SUMMER GAMES):
1. London - 2012
24.0/38 NBC
2. Beijing – 2008
23.0/37 NBC
3. Barcelona – 1992
22.6/38 NBC
4. Athens – 2004
21.5/33 NBC
5. Seoul – 1988
18.4/32 NBC
6. Sydney – 2000
17.7/29 NBC
OVERNIGHTS FOR FIRST TUESDAY NIGHT (U.S. SUMMER GAMES):
1. Atlanta – 1996
30.0/48 NBC
2. Los Angeles – 1984
25.7/46 ABC
TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR FIRST TUESDAY NIGHT:
1. Salt Lake City
31.3/51
2. Indianapolis
29.2/46
3. Kansas City
28.9/44
4. Denver
28.8/51
5. Minneapolis
28.4/48
6. Milwaukee
28.0/45
7. Norfolk
27.5/40
8. Columbus
27.2/44
9. San Diego
26.7/45
10. Albuquerque
26.6/41
11. Richmond
26.4/39
12. Washington D.C.
26.3/45
13. Oklahoma City
26.1/40
14. West Palm Beach
25.9/42
15. New Orleans
25.6/35
16. Portland
25.5/48
T17. Atlanta
25.2/39
T17. Austin
25.2/42
T17. Tulsa
25.2/38
T20. Nashville
24.4/37
T20. San Antonio
24.4/35
HIGHEST RATED BY TIME ZONE (THROUGH FIRST TUESDAY):
Mountain 23.0/40
Pacific 21.5/40
Central 21.0/35
Eastern 20.2/34
