Comments on: Olympic Ratings and Other Miscellany http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/08/26/olympic-ratings-and-other-miscellany/4792 Nielsen TV Show Ratings, Data and More Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:29:13 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: RTG http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/08/26/olympic-ratings-and-other-miscellany/4792#comment-20774 RTG Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:25:47 +0000 http://tvbythenumbers.com/?p=4792#comment-20774 I'm wondering how much of the 2008 ratings bump is a one-off. There's just too much going on for Beijing. Apart from the mystique of China, there's the torch relay fiasco, the massive earthquake, protests, threat of boycotts, cyclists arriving with face masks, it's like the city was percolating ready to explode leading up to the Games, then China delivered by opening the Games with a bang. That opening ceremony was one for the ages and I doubt will ever be equalled. Then we get to enoy the stunning architecture of their venues with amazing athletic performances, all carried live in primetime at least the first week. I seriously doubt if we'll see another Games like this.<br><br>Even with all that, the ratings dropped off quite a bit the second week when none of the track events were live and the US team fizzled. Being live is still very important. None of the events in London will be live during prime time due to the time difference. Even in Vancouver, only skating will be live. The skiiing events during the day will be taped. And the US no longer dominates in skating. I'm interested to see how the ratings hold up. <br><br>I also don't know how NBC could continues to profit from the Olympics. With the record ratings in Beijing they still make less than $100M. Both the London and Vancouver Games cost more. 2014 and 2016 will cost even more now that ABC/ESPN and FOX are both interested. I think the IOC should break up the TV rights into packages and allow different networks to bid for different packages, either by sport or by timeframe. I'm wondering how much of the 2008 ratings bump is a one-off. There's just too much going on for Beijing. Apart from the mystique of China, there's the torch relay fiasco, the massive earthquake, protests, threat of boycotts, cyclists arriving with face masks, it's like the city was percolating ready to explode leading up to the Games, then China delivered by opening the Games with a bang. That opening ceremony was one for the ages and I doubt will ever be equalled. Then we get to enoy the stunning architecture of their venues with amazing athletic performances, all carried live in primetime at least the first week. I seriously doubt if we'll see another Games like this.

Even with all that, the ratings dropped off quite a bit the second week when none of the track events were live and the US team fizzled. Being live is still very important. None of the events in London will be live during prime time due to the time difference. Even in Vancouver, only skating will be live. The skiiing events during the day will be taped. And the US no longer dominates in skating. I'm interested to see how the ratings hold up.

I also don't know how NBC could continues to profit from the Olympics. With the record ratings in Beijing they still make less than $100M. Both the London and Vancouver Games cost more. 2014 and 2016 will cost even more now that ABC/ESPN and FOX are both interested. I think the IOC should break up the TV rights into packages and allow different networks to bid for different packages, either by sport or by timeframe.

]]> By: Robert Seidman http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/08/26/olympic-ratings-and-other-miscellany/4792#comment-20672 Robert Seidman Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:53:12 +0000 http://tvbythenumbers.com/?p=4792#comment-20672 Wopa, indeed it is. 2010 Winter games were on the brain I guess. Thanks for the heads-up. Wopa, indeed it is. 2010 Winter games were on the brain I guess. Thanks for the heads-up.

]]> By: wopa http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/08/26/olympic-ratings-and-other-miscellany/4792#comment-20668 wopa Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:47:19 +0000 http://tvbythenumbers.com/?p=4792#comment-20668 2012 is in London. 2012 is in London.

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