NBC/USA Network Coverage of Paris Olympics Registers 12 of Top 19 Primetime Shows in 2024, Excluding NFL
Total Viewership Average Up 77% from Tokyo Olympics after 12 Days
Top 20 Markets for Paris Olympics on NBC Broadcast Network Led by New Orleans (Chart Below)
STAMFORD, Conn. – August 7, 2024 – NBCUniversal’s nightly Paris Olympics show from 8-11 p.m. ET/PT has dominated primetime, topping 13 million viewers each night across NBC and USA Network, according to Nielsen. In addition, the show accounts for 12 of the 19 most-watched primetime shows in 2024, excluding NFL (chart below).
Most-Watched Primetime Shows, 2024, Nielsen-only (excluding NFL)
| Show, Date | Avg. Viewers |
| ESPN College Football Playoff Championship Game, 1/8 | 25.0 million* |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 7/28 | 20.0 million* |
| ABC Academy Awards, 3/10 | 19.5 million |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 7/30 | 18.8 million* |
| ESPN College Football Playoff Semifinal, 1/1 | 18.7 million* |
| CBS Grammy Awards, 2/4 | 17.1 million |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 8/1 | 16.6 million* |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 7/29 | 16.4 million* |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 8/5 | 16.1 million* |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 8/4 | 15.5 million* |
| NBC 2024 Paris Olympics, 7/26 | 15.1 million |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 8/3 | 15.0 million* |
| TBS NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, 4/8 | 14.8 million* |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 7/27 | 14.7 million* |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 7/31 | 14.6 million* |
| ESPN NCAA Women’s Basketball Semifinal, 4/5 | 14.4 million* |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 8/2 | 14.3 million* |
| TBS NCAA Men’s Basketball Semifinal, 4/6 | 14.1 million* |
| NBC/USA 2024 Paris Olympics, 8/6 | 13.9 million* |
Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Data; Excludes Pre- and Post-Shows
*Viewership across multiple television networks
Beginning with the Opening Ceremony, NBCUniversal has a posted 12-day Total Audience Delivery average of 32.2 million viewers across the combined live Paris Prime (2-5 p.m. ET) and U.S. primetime (8-11 p.m. ET/PT) time periods – up 77% from Tokyo (18.2 million).
Total Audience Delivery is based upon live-plus-same day official figures from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics. Live viewership from 2-5 p.m. ET (Paris Prime) is inclusive of NBC, Peacock, USA Network, E!, Paris Extra 1, Paris Extra 2, and additional NBCU digital platforms. Primetime viewership includes NBC, Peacock, USA Network, Paris Extra 1 and Paris Extra 2.
New Orleans leads all markets in local NBC station ratings through the first 11 days of broadcast coverage (“Paris Prime” + primetime windows). Following are the Top 20 markets:
Top Metered Markets for NBC Stations, 2024 Paris Olympics (7/26-8/5):
| 1. | New Orleans | 19.8/25 |
| 2. | West Palm Beach | 19.6/28 |
| 3. | Tulsa | 19.2/25 |
| 4. | Minneapolis | 18.4/33 |
| 5. | Dayton | 17.9/26 |
| 6. | Kansas City | 17.8/30 |
| 7. | Fort Myers | 17.1/26 |
| 8. | Milwaukee | 16.9/27 |
| 9. | Oklahoma City | 16.8/25 |
| T10. | Louisville | 16.7/23 |
| T10. | St. Louis | 16.7/27 |
| 12. | Indianapolis | 16.5/29 |
| 13. | Richmond | 16.4/24 |
| T14. | Austin | 16.1/33 |
| T14. | Norfolk | 16.1/27 |
| T16. | Buffalo | 15.9/24 |
| T16. | Pittsburgh | 15.9/24 |
| T16. | Baltimore | 15.9/27 |
| 19. | Dallas | 15.7/31 |
| 20. | Denver | 15.5/31 |
Source: Nielsen
For the latest comprehensive NBCUniversal Paris Olympics schedule information, please visit https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule.
--NBC OLYMPICS–
