Beijing Olympics = Most Watched Event in US TV History
We think NBC should thank Michael Phelps big time!
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has become the most-watched U.S. television event of all time.
Through 16 days of coverage, 211 million viewers have watched the Olympics on NBC and its sister cable channels, according to Nielsen Media Research.
That’s 2 million ahead of the 1996 Atlanta Games, the previous all-time record-holder.
The Beijing Games reportedly defied industry expectations by trending 11% higher than the Athens Games four years ago.
The Michael Phelps drama that unfolded felt like a once-in-a-lifetime sort of a thing.
Bet the 2012 London Olympics folks are feeling hard pressed to find something that can live up to the Phelps phenomenon!
[Image via Pacific Coast News.]
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Pure Velveeta
!!
Phelps is a hottie!
Well, the Olympics didn't hold my interest. For the first time ever, I watched less than usual. Didn't wanna see volleyball. Wanted diving and gymnastics, never on at the right time.
It was just fantastic.
The olympics were great, but it was much better thanks to Michael Phelps.
I didn't watch a single second of the olympics. While I'm proud of Phelps amd the other US competitors, the olympics are boring.
I actually watched for liukin and johnson. but I think phelps is amazing too.
right, remember swimming is only 1 week. perez is making it sound like it's all Phelps, but it isn't. while michael was a big reason why people were watching the first week, I think the real reason was that this truly was the best olympic games ever held despite all the controversy.
The Olympics was AMAZING and not just b/c of Phelps (big plus) but the upsets and opening ceremony really made me want to watch events unfold. I think the CHinese put on a show that will be very hard to beat. Best opening and closing ceremony EVER!
also, consider the huge chinese-american or chinese-canadian population.
You can say that again! It's was great!
The final two or three days I barely watched, but the first week or so was great. Towards the end I really lost interest after the swimming and gymnastics and stuff. I mean come on, B.M.X and synchronized hula-hoops? I don't know how some of the sports even got into the Olympics.
silly american…..i highly doubt ppl watch the olympics just cuz of michael phelps -_- i missed more than half his races. P
geez perez, you sound like michael phelps was the only olympian competing.
I believe 9/11 was the most watched event in television history.
i think the opening ceremony and the buzz surrounding the whole thing was what brought in the viewers. and of course phelps did help as well.
Hmmm lets see. We found out the chinese wouldn't let a 7 year old girl sing because she was not "pretty enough" (and to tell her that hm)…the girl who was pretty enough to be shown on TV lipsynced. There was a murder of two american tourists on the first day….some of the fireworks were pretaped and photo edited…..they couldn't buy food at the venues, smog, the poor people were sent out of Beijing until the games were over. Taxi drivers who were not "hygenic or good looking enough" were moved out and werenot permitted to work. Not to mention the human rights violations in Tibet…..
Scalpers were charging way too much that people could not get in to see. The chinese people are use to creating things that look good but are very fake. I am surprised the people were not made out of lead.
yes they did a great show, but it was soooooo extravagant. They should have used a portion of that but on a good show and helped their countrymen out. Sad when people are more concerned with how fast someone runs or swims rather than the treatment of human beings just trying to live.
WHAT ABOUT USAIN BOLT IN TRACK & FIELD - PHELPS WAS EARLY IN GAMES - BOLT CLOSED IT - REALLY U PEOPLE ARE SO ISOLATED INTELLECTUALLY IN AMERICA - U THINK UR THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD - I HAVE NEWS FOR YA'LL - YOU'RE NOT!!!
WHY didn't they show more Men's Basketball???? The one event that is commercial to a mass market EVERY YEAR, and the only time it was televised on NBC was if they played Saturday morning! They might have gotten even more viewers if they had shown that, rather than 5 hours straight of marathon racing and volleyball.
How can you have that many asians in one place without any fuckin sweet and sour sauce?.
{{{{{{{ perez }}}}}}}}}}}}
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Let me tell U y so many people
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watch the olympicz…coz……..
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CHINA WAZ CHEATING LIKE”” FUK”””
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USA ROKZ THE HELL OUTTA THE WORLD…
Michael Phelps wasnt the only reason why people watched the Olympics Perez, though what he did was amazing. People finds themselfs more at home then spending money due to the economy and the gas prices. It's what keeps me home more these days.
That nine year old hero
of the earthquake Lin Hao
was the best part of the entire
Olympics!
The swimmer Natalie Du Toit
who swam so well with part of her
left leg missing was amazing also!
Talk about heroic role models, WOW!
I don't care much for sport but the opening and closing ceremony was AMAZING. Well done to the Chinese for putting on the best Olympics EVER!!!!I cannot believe that it's over already. All of the volunteers and dancers who worked so hard to put on such a great show were well noticed all around the world! The London Olympics aren't even gonna come close! Much love to China
phelps isn't the only thing that made the olympics good. the opening ceremony was the best EVER. god perez… olympics isn't just about phelps. there were so many more athletes that deserve attention. just because he broke the world record doesn't mean he's the only reason people watched the olympics.
Re: lilli – Who ever said that?!?
Were just proud of phelps, we never said that we didn't care about anything else, out of all things small minded, you are!
And your being pretty rasit
Hopefully this is the last time we see the name Michael Fucking Phelps on this site….FUCKER!
Re: HOT4COOK –
Exactly!
It's because of TIVO……
Team USA should thank Michael Phelps who earned 45% of Gold Metals for them.
Team USA should thank Michael Phelps who earned 22% of Gold Metals for them.
Re: hotmeimei – Sorry, 22%
JAAACKKIIIEEE chan was classic, dancing away as he does at the ending ceremony. =]
This was the first year that I was actually into the Olympics haha.
Re: sunflower08 –
If you never ever been to China and never ever knew what really happen in China.. Shut the fuck up!
dont spread the rumour and making hates… not many Chinese people will say thank to the people who come to China protested for thier human right! go protest somewhere else.. if people really care about life in China they wont make China look such horrible.. only people hate the Chinese and China will say things like this.. stop pretent you care about China human rights.. compare to 10 years ago.. life in Tibet is much much better!
Re: sunflower08 – Only stupid people talk about Chinese human right! When people are just trying to make their ends meal, they don't really care about any other rights?
I'm having withdrawals. I was one of the many Olympic addicts. No more swimming. No more gymnastics. No more handball, water polo, diving, volleyball, table tennis, track & field. I watched everything I could, I'll admit it. I'll just have to hold on till late September when the fall tv season rolls out. Yikes *bites nails*.
Re: Bridgee – agreed
Micheal Phelps is a very good swimmer, no doubt about that! But I think he's getting way too overrated. It's not like he stopped global warning or recreated the dodo bird. He's just a very good swimmer, not a hero! And other people should just shut up about human rights!! It's they're choice so just leave them alone!! It's not affecting the whole world!! Worry about your own damn government and country!!