Last night in prime time, NBC averaged a preliminary 5.0 from 8-11 pm with Adults 18-49 from 8-11 pm. The network has often thrown the 8 pm hour out of the nightly average (by delaying national commercials until 9:00). If 8 pm is excluded, Saturday’s Olympic rating will be around a 6.0 — just above the recent high on this night (5.9 in Sydney 2000 on the third and final Saturday).
Friday night fast nationals are finally in after a significant delay. NBC averaged a 5.7 rating Friday from 8-11 pm. However, if NBC excludes the 8:00 half hour (which rated a 3.7), the 8:30-11:00 average goes up to a 6.1 when the official ratings are released. (A 6.1 rating would be significantly lower than Athens on the same night, but much higher Sydney and Beijing).
The average of the first 16 nights is now a 9.7 rating. If the Closing Ceremony tonight averages a 6.1 rating or more, the full 17-night average will be a 9.5. However, if the Closing is a 6.0 or below, the 17-night average will be 9.4. Whatever rating gets at 10:30 pm tonight could disappear almost immediately when Animal Practice preview — the lastest from the network that “(Peacocks) Comedy”.
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