NBC’s take on Beijing Games viewership

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NBC’s Monday night prime-time broadcast drew an average of 26.4 million viewers and a 15.8 rating, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Four years ago during the comparable broadcast from the Athens Games, NBC had 25.9 million viewers and a 16.4 rating.

Through 11 days of prime-time broadcasts, NBC is averaging 29.6 million viewers, up from a 26.2 million average during the like period from Athens. Its 17.2 average rating is up from 15.8 from Athens.

NBC Universal describes its Beijing Olympic broadcasts on NBC and its family of cable networks as ‘the fourth most-viewed television event in U.S. history.’

Here’s the NBC Universal list of the most-watched ‘television events’:

1. 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, 209 million viewers over 17 days
2. 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, 204 million over 16 days
3. 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, 203 million viewers over 17 days
4. 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 200 million viewers through 11 days
5. 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, 194 million over 17 days

-- Greg Johnson

Nastia Liukin, right, is hugged by her father and coach Valeri during the uneven bars apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Monday, Aug 18, 2008. Liukin won the silver medal. AP Photo/Amy Sancetta