RE: Some of this may also be due to the time differential between Japan and the US.
Did they have the same ad problem when the Olympics were held in Sydney and Beijing?
Every report I’ve seen on these TV ratings indicates that the ratings are the lowest since 1988 — when the Olympics were held in South Korea. So I’m sure the time differential is a big part of it.
The 2000 Olympics in Sydney didn't even start until mid-September, which kind of makes sense because the seasons are six months off in the Southern Hemisphere and you'd have to hold the Summer Olympics in January and February down there for it to really be "summer."
The Seoul Olympics were also held in September -- apparently due to concerns about the peak summer heat season there. I never thought that would be a major concern in South Korea, but I guess it can get very hot there in July and August.
Re: 26 - Unknown.
And I said “some”, as I fully acknowledge that the wokeism that some US athletes have embraced is a real turnoff to a large group of Americans.