Parting Schotts

NBC Sports attracts over 30 million viewers again for its Summer Olympics coverage

NBC Sports' Summer Olympics coverage attracted more than 30 million viewers for the fifth straight night, and six of the seven nights so far, the network announced Friday.

Thursday's coverage, which featured Gabby Douglas winning the gold medal in the women's gymnastics all-around and Michael Phelps outdueling Ryan Lochte in the 200m IM to earn his record 20th career Olympic medal, drew an average of 36.8 million viewers, the most-watched first Thursday of any non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 years (Montreal 1976). It was also the most-watched Thursday telecast on any network since the Friends series finale on May 6, 2004.

NBC is averaging 35.1 million viewers, the most of any non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the Montreal Olympics. The 35.1 million is 4.5 million more viewers than Beijing (30.6 million), and 8.1 million more than Athens (27.0 million).

Here is the seven-night metered-market average so far.
1. Salt Lake City 27.8/48
2. Milwaukee 25.8/42
3. Kansas City 25.7/42
4. Denver 25.4/47
5. Columbus 24.6/41
6. Indianapolis 24.4/41
T7. San Diego 24.3/43
T7. Norfolk 24.3/38
9. Richmond 23.6/38
T10. West Palm Beach 3.0/38
T10. Albuquerque 23.0/38
12. Minneapolis 22.9/43
13. Oklahoma City 22.6/36
T14. Washington, D.C. 22.4/41
T14. St. Louis 22.4/37
T14. Austin 22.4/39
17. Portland 22.2/45
18. Nashville 22.1/34
T19. Sacramento22.0/41
T19. Ft. Myers 22.0/39

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