USA!! USA!!! USA!!!!

[Big RR]

Well next summer you can see the US Women's team in the Olympics as well. So you don't have to wait 4 years for international competition again.

[wesw]

remember when the whole country used to watch the Olympics?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Ah, those heady days of ... er... 2012...

The games of the XXX Olympiad ended on yet another high note, as the 17-night extravaganza now stands as the most-watched event in U.S. television history.

According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, NBC’s coverage of the 2012 London Summer Olympics drew 219.4 million total viewers, edging the Beijing Games by 4.4 million viewers, or 2 percent.

For the sake of context, the U.S. Census Bureau pegs the population at 311.6 million people, which means that more than two-thirds (70 percent) of all Americans watched at least part of the games.

With an average 31.1 million viewers tuning in over the course of the London Games, NBC delivered the most-watched non-U.S. Summer Olympics package since Montreal (1976). The network also beat the blockbuster Beijing event by 12 percent—this after NBC executives had projected a 20 percent decline from four years ago.

http://www.adweek.com/news/television/n ... old-142706

[Lord Jim]

How about instead of making audience comparisons with a single game of a seven game series, (basketball or baseball) or a two week extravaganza with dozens of televised events, (the Olympics) we do an actual "like to like" comparison with another single game event?

Like the Super Bowl for example:

114.4 million viewers

The 2015 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks set a new mark, averaging 114.4 million viewers per minute on NBC's Sunday night broadcast, becoming the most watched event in American TV history.Feb 2, 2015

https://www.google.com/search?q=superbo ... 8&oe=utf-8

I don't want to take anything away from our gals, they're a great team, and they played a fantastic final and series...

But in terms of TV audience popularity, yes their numbers are nothing to be ashamed of, but a little perspective's in order...

[wesw]

meade, I don t know how they got those numbers but......

.....when I was a kid and teenager, back when there were only three networks, every kid on the bus talked about the Olympics every morning while they were going on. we all watched them.

that does not happen now.

[Guinevere]

Perhaps because you're not a kid on the bus… Or maybe that's not true.

[Joe Guy]

.....when I was a kid and teenager, back when there were only three networks, every kid on the bus talked about the Olympics every morning while they were going on. we all watched them.

Was that a little yellow bus?

[wesw]

well, my son is 24 and played every sport imaginable. I don t recall him watching the Olympics. there were a few conversations at baseball practice among the kids, but it was not pervasive, as it once was . I haven t watched the Olympics in many years.

eta-no joe, they had to get extra big buses for us. we were hell raisers.

[MajGenl.Meade]

meade, I don t know how they got those numbers

For the benefit of non-readers, I will quote this from the article v e r y s l o w l y:

According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data

[wesw]

again for those who are slow to get a point repeatedly made.....

unless you have a complete breakdown of the methodology of nielsons survey, a complete explanation of exactly who they poll and a history of the people doing the polling and their vested interests and a study of their finances, I don t trust their numbers.

[MajGenl.Meade]

You are an idiot

[wesw]

maybe, maybe not....

[Long Run]

It sounds like there are two different concepts: tv ratings versus "buzz factor". The tv ratings are what they are. However, my experience is similar to wesw's when it comes to whether people are talking about the Olympics. Back when there was less going on, the big events seemed to have more intensity. Now, there are a lot of things competing for that intensity-attention.

[wesw]

man I would cut school just to see franz klammer go downhill one last time. and vasily alexi lifting weights was must see tv.....

[oldr_n_wsr]

I used to watch the olympics. Not anymore other than a passing channel flip.
Maybe it's on in hte background while I am doing something. But certainly not riveted to the tube like I once was.

[rubato]

Rube is right - the only time in recent memory women's tennis has been particularly competitive (as opposed to one player dominating all) since Chrissy and Martina has been when both Williams sisters have been on and focussed. That's over now with Venus' illness and lack of interest in the game.

That doesn't mean Stefi wasn't a great player - she was. But she dominated without a lot of competition rather like Serena dominates today. They both would have been even better if/when they were pushed harder (like my Swiss boyfriend has been).

My point was actually that the depth of talent in women's tennis is much better today than in the 70s-80s and has been since the early 90s. Serena dominates a much deeper and more talented field that Chrissy or Martina ever did. And Seffi Graf had more and better opponents than they did either.


yrs,
rubato

[Lord Jim]

NYC Ticker-Tape Parade for U.S. Women’s Soccer Steps Off Friday

Thousands are expected to line New York City’s Canyon of Heroes Friday for a ticker-tape parade celebrating the U.S. women’s soccer team, which won its third World Cup title Sunday.

The honorees will be showered with several tons of confetti made from paper scraps and toilet paper, since the ticker-tape historically used to record telegraphed stock quotes is no longer in use. Spectators will fling the confetti from buildings lining the parade route as the 23 players ride up Broadway on more than two dozen patriotically decorated floats, city officials said.

The parade’s special guests will include Good Morning America Anchor Robin Roberts and Heather Mitts, a former member of the women’s soccer team, city officials said. Marching bands from the city’s five boroughs will play in the procession.

The parade steps off from Battery Park at 11 a.m. and will continue up Broadway to City Hall, where the mayor will host a 1 p.m. ceremony honoring the team. More than 12,000 people entered a lottery for tickets to the event at City Hall’s plaza, which can hold up to 3,500 people, city officials said.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/nyc-ticker- ... 1436522401