Which cities lead in Olympic viewing?

Written by Dave Kelsey on 09 August 2012.

NBC's ratings are up for this year's Summer Olympics in London and each day the network releases specific data about those numbers. While the overall viewership totals have been well covered and analyzed, it's also interesting to take a look at some of the more detailed numbers within the overall picture. The tape delaying of events in primetime has taken a beating on Twitter, but it's a bit of a surprise that the two western-most time zones have the highest ratings, as they are on more of a delay than the other US timezones:

Highest Rated Time Zones (Through 12 Days):

Mountain	21.7/38
Pacific	20.1/38
Central	20.0/34
Eastern	19.0/32

And as for which cities are most tuned in to the Olympics so far, it's also an interesting list with a lot of markets you may not expect...

1. Salt Lake City	26.5/47
2. Kansas City	24.3/40
3. Milwaukee	24.2/40
4. Denver	23.9/45
5. Columbus, OH	23.2/38
6. Norfolk	23.1/36
7. Indianapolis	22.5/38
8. San Diego	22.3/39
9. Richmond	22.0/35
10. West Palm Beach	21.9/36

Those cities aren't really ones you'd consider as being huge sports markets, but they've definitely tuned in by the masses to watch this year's Olympics. Who would have thought Salt Lake City, former Winter Olympics host, would lead the nation in Olympic viewing for the Summer Games.

8 comments

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JDillardWatt

@TrevorDickerson Gabby Douglas driving those ratings.

TrevorDickerson

@JDillardWatt Absolutely agree. Especially when you see Norfolk, her home market, on there at number 6.

JDillardWatt

@TrevorDickerson yep

CollegeWolf

This author is da studz!

ChampSB3233

Denver not a huge sports market? It's in the most active state, plus the USOC and lots of athletes based an hour away in Colorado Springs. Missy Franklin from Aurora spikes it in Denver as well.