Rating 33% Higher Than Last European Olympic Winter Games in Torino in 2006
Sochi Ranks As 2nd Most-Watched Non-Live Winter Games Opening Ceremony in History
Adult 18-49 Demo Tops Other Networks Combined By Highest Margin Ever for Winter Olympics
STAMFORD, Conn. – February 8, 2014 – NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Olympics averaged 31.7 million viewers to rank as the most-watched Opening Ceremony for a non-live Winter Games since the 1994 Lillehammer Games, according to live plus same day fast national data released today by The Nielsen Company. In addition, last night’s telecast ranks #2 all-time among most-watched non-live Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies (chart below).
NBC SPORTS GROUP CHAIRMAN MARK LAZARUS: “Like Team USA, we’re off to a great start, and we’re gratified that the American audience tuned in in such large numbers for the tremendous Opening Ceremony from Sochi. It’s an early sign that our strategy of emphasizing primetime viewing is working, and we’re excited for the competition over the next two weeks.”
- Viewership for the NBC telecast (8–11:08 p.m. ET/PT) was up 43% from the last non-live Winter Games Opening Ceremony (22.2 million for 2006 Torino Games) while last night’s 17.0/28 household rating/share produced a 33% increase over Torino (12.8/21).
- Compared to the live (ET/CT) 2010 Vancouver Opening Ceremony, last night’s telecast was off only two percent in household rating (17.3/30) and three percent in viewership (32.7 million).
- NBC scored the most dominant primetime Winter Olympics victory on record in Adults 18-49 with an 8.7 rating, and 235% above the combined ABC/CBS/FOX rating (based on People Meter, which dates to 1987).
MOST-WATCHED NON-LIVE WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONIES, AVERAGE VIEWERS (P2+):
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TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR OPENING CEREMONY:
| Market | HH rating/share |
| 1. Minneapolis | 26.0/45 |
| 2. Salt Lake City | 24.4/43 |
| 3. Ft. Meyers | 21.7/34 |
| 4. Chicago | 21.6/34 |
| T5. Boston | 21.5/37 |
| T5. Kansas City | 21.5/34 |
| 7. Milwaukee | 20.7/35 |
| 8. Denver | 20.5/36 |
| T9. Portland | 20.4/33 |
| T9. Buffalo | 20.4/33 |
| 11. Washington, D.C. | 20.2/35 |
| 12. Columbus | 20.0/33 |
| 13. Sacramento | 19.4/30 |
| 14. Indianapolis | 19.3/32 |
| 15. St. Louis | 19.1/31 |
| T16. Norfolk | 19.0/30 |
| T16. Providence | 19.0/30 |
| T16. Dayton | 19.0/29 |
| 19. Pittsburgh | 18.9/29 |
| 20. Orlando | 18.7/29 |
Jim Bell served as executive producer of NBC’s Opening Ceremony coverage; Joe Michaels, director; Joe Gesue and Rebecca Chatman producers.
ABOUT NBC OLYMPICS
A division of the NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history.
--NBC OLYMPICS–
