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.]