NBC Celebrates Final Olympic Victory on Sunday

Zap2It.com | August 25, 2008

Bob Costas

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Two weeks of boffo Olympic ratings conclude for NBC

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008.

The closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics ended a wildly successful two-week ratings run for NBC with a Sunday night win.

Overall, NBC averaged a 13.6 rating/ 23 share for the night, far ahead of the 3.8/6 for second place CBS. ABC was third with a 2.9/5, followed by FOX's 19.3 and the 0.6/1 for The CW.

NBC averaged a 6.9 rating among adults 18-49, dominating the key demographic. ABC and CBS posted matching 1.5 ratings to tie for second, with FOX's 1.2 and the 0.3 rating for The CW right behind.

The primetime sweep for NBC began in the 7 p.m. hour with a 9.4/18 for the Olympic closing. CBS' "60 Minutes" had a 4.4/8 for second, with ABC's 3.1/6 for "America's Funniest Home Videos" good for third. Two episodes of "'Til Death" on FOX had no trouble beating a 0.5/1 for a "One Tree Hill" episode.

NBC's Olympics coverage was up to a 14.9/24 in its second hour. CBS got a 4.0/7 from "Big Brother" for second. ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" held third, beating the 2.5/4 for "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" on FOX. The CW's "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Aliens in America" made barely a ripple.

In the 9 p.m. hour, NBC's Olympics telecast peaked with a 16.3/25. ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" moved up to second with a 3.5/5, beating the 2.7/4 for CBS' "Million Dollar Password." FOX held fourth with "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," which more than doubled the 0.8/1 for two episodes of "The Game."

NBC closed with a 13.8/23 in the 10 p.m hour. CBS' "Cold Case" did a 3.9/7 for second and ABC held third with a 2.1/4 for "Desperate Housewives."

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.