Olympics Ratings: 4.7 Billion People Worldwide

NEW YORK — More than two out of three people worldwide tuned in for the Beijing Olympics.

Nielsen Media Research says 4.7 billion viewers globally saw at least some of the 17 days of TV coverage last month. This audience was one-fifth larger than the 3.9 billion who watched the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Host nation China claimed more viewers than any other nation, Nielsen said Friday, logging an audience reach of 94 percent among its population of 1.3 billion.

In the U.S., where NBC and several sister networks aired extensive coverage, the 2008 Olympics took the record as the most-viewed event in American television history.

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NBC is owned by General Electric Co.

Comments

[JumpingCholla]

I was not one of them.

[sunriser]

China is on the rise. Palin is on the rise. Chinese officials must be licking their chops anticipation that McCain and Palin stand a chance to actually lead America. They are pleased that McCain is 73 and graduated 943 out 949 at his college. More pleased that Palin took 6 years and 5 different colleges to secure a bachelor degree in journalism. Chinese officials know that American society is racially polarized and the bitter white people cling to the Republican party as their last hope of keeping political and economic racial segregation in place.
As the world moves forward, soon to be lead by China, perhaps India, that world looks back in its rearview mirror and shakes it’s head as Hannity’s America mauls itself to death.
Where’s the intelligence? Get it and get real.

[icechaos]

What a stuipid speech. In 20 years the US will be Mexico. You should love it.

[janicegwashington]

Who cares! We have a failing economy and an ignorant presidential candidate running for office - John McCain - who has basically vowed to take America down to its lowest point since the Great Depression. I mean really, who cares.

[ProfessorDuh]

Not me, pal. This is bread and circuses while Rome burns.

[MagisterLudi]

Amazing Olympics, great coverage, astonishing ceremonies and facilities. The world is happy no one listened to the dour people like that old actress (whatshername?) pushing for boycott.

[bdd]

Hmm!
Isn't that basically the population of China?
I was so disgusted with this being hosted in a fascist and communist state that I did not bother to watch at all.
It's time to end the Olympics as run by big business. WE the PEOPLE come up with a better plan that includes all the "PEOPLES" of the world.
My apologies to the participants and future participants, but a BOYCOTT is required until this happens.

[kadene]

I was so disgusted with the coverage of the Games. I hated the fact that in 2008, with technology available for real-time viewing, I was told when I could see the events. WOW. Even the communists and the fascists showed it real-time.

[pfc1369]

The population of China? Not even close.

Viewers: 4.7 billion

Pop. of China: 1.3 billion

[Budokan]

wow, that's a lot of people!

[ladyrefined2000]

yeah, i agree.....­..personal­ly, i had to go buy a newspaper.