Posted on 08/10/2008 4:00:33 PM PDT by maccaca
Despite tape delaying the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony by 12 hours, NBC earned the highest overnight rating ever for a non-American Olympics and the largest audience. It was also the most viewed telecast of an Olympic opening ceremony of a non-U.S. Games. An audience of 70 million watched, 14 million more than viewership for the Athens opener. In a statement, Dick Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Sports and Olympics, said, “The Olympic opening ceremony captivated the American public in unprecedented numbers for a non-U.S. Olympics. It was a magical and memorable spectacle and a great way to start the Beijing Olympics.” The telecast, which was tape delayed and aired from 8 p.m. to 11:19 p.m. ET, produced a 21.5 rating (percentage of potential U.S. households tuned in). That was 19 per cent higher than the overnight for the Athens ceremony in 2004 and 16 per cent above Sydney in 2000. The audience share, the percentage of households that watched some part of the show, was 37 per cent. As well, NBCOlympics.com had 70 Million page views on Friday, a 900 per cent increase over Athens. NBC's rating for the Atlanta opener in 1996, a U.S. Olympics in prime time, was 27.2. Sydney opening ceremony coverage earned a 18.5 rating; Seoul in 1988, 18.3; Athens, 18.0; and Barcelona in 1992, 16.5.
(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I watched about two minutes. The ceremony looked better than most, but I couldn’t stand spin from the pro-commie announcers.
I didn’t watch any of it. Doubt I’ll watch any of the rest of the Olympics.
These Olympics are more popular than I thought they would be. There is definately a buzz.
The opening ceremony was quite splendid, a very nice show indeed. But, that’s probably all I’ll really watch.
Snort.
food network is on most of the time in this house. not even watching the commie games.
I still like the Olympics and don’t view China as our worst enemy, but I did not like our announcers whitewashing the symbolic propaganda that was on display.
Ditto. Haven't watched the 'Olympics' in years...haven't missed a thing.
The ceremony was fantastic.....a real gem!
Did nobody else find the opening ceremony a tad more Leni Riefenstahl-esque than usual even for these mass extravaganzas?
See - a constant left wing message really can be popular. :)
You’re right.....it was a well scripted propaganda piece - start to finish.
Sad to think that the Tianamen Square massacre footage probably didn’t generate a 10th of the same number of viewers. Guess we know where the average person’s priorities lie.
“See - a constant left wing message really can be popular. :)”
Frankly, the constant pro china suckups by the commentators is sickening. Either they think the Chinese are the master race or they are afraid the plug will be pulled.
NBC Military Analyst Quits Network, Citing Left-wing Bias:
http://newsbusters.org/node/10857
[NBC's Keith] Olbermann: Bin Laden’s Driver Is ‘Victim’ of Bush Admin ‘Urinating’ on Constitution
http://newsbusters.org/taxonomy/term/185
KRISTINN, FREEREPUBLIC.COM: We have kids that wear Che Guevara shirts here in the United States.
MATTHEWS: Yes, but they're kind of cute at this point, aren't they? They're not about somebody out to get us now. I think there's a difference. I mean, that's kind of camp almost, isn't it?...is Che Guevara the symbol of hate in the United States anymore?
KRISTINN: Yes.
MATTHEWS: I don't think so. I mean, a lot of our kids wear them. I see kids wearing them all the time, even my kids wear them. It's like a Robert Marley T-shirt at this point.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11943459/
Matthews: Obama Speech Caused 'Thrill Going Up My Leg'
"During MSNBC's live coverage of Tuesday's presidential primary elections, after the speeches of Barack Obama and John McCain had aired, Chris Matthews expressed his latest over the top admiration for Obama's speaking skills as the MSNBC anchor admitted that Obama's speech created a 'thrill' in his leg"
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2008/02/13/matthews-obama-speech-caused-thrill-going-my-leg
From MSNBC Hardball with Chris Matthews (transcript)
March. 21, 2006:
Reminded me of Maddy Albright’s staged performance before the Dear Leader in North Korea. Disgusting that people are getting a kick out of a slave show.
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