TV ratings soaring for Paris 2024 Olympic Games

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00From postcard cliches to stages of sporting history.

00:05Despite logistical headaches,

00:07Paris 2024 organisers were determined to transform the city's iconic landmarks

00:13into unconventional event venues.

00:15It's a choice the Olympic Games broadcasting chief says is paying off amid soaring TV ratings.

00:22It's not just that you have somebody finishing a road cycling event and crossing the line.

00:29It's that we zoom out and on top of the biggest cyclist in the world at the moment,

00:34it's the Eiffel Tower.

00:36This creates a moment which is unique.

00:39In France, where some had voiced indifference over hosting the Games,

00:4323.2 million people tuned in to watch the opening ceremony live,

00:48a record for broadcaster France Télévisions.

00:52Bonjour!

00:54Meanwhile, the Olympics have so far been a runaway hit for US broadcaster NBC Universal,

01:01welcome news for advertisers,

01:03who have committed a record $1.25 billion for the Games period.

01:08The opening ceremony attracted 28.6 million US viewers,

01:13the most watched start to a summer Games since London in 2012,

01:17and compared to 16.7 million in Tokyo in 2021.

01:22Plus, in the first five days, an average of 34 million people tuned in to primetime Olympic coverage

01:28on NBC platforms, up 79% from Tokyo.

01:32The discrepancy is unsurprising.

01:34Still in the grips of the pandemic, no fans were allowed into the venues in 2021,

01:39which was unlikely to have inspired audiences at home,

01:43while many of the biggest events took place either early in the morning or late at night

01:47for American viewers on the East Coast.

01:50The Olympic Broadcasting Services say it's producing a record 11,000 hours of content

01:55to feed the growing appetite of broadcasters and digital platforms.

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