Opening Ceremony (c) IOC

In the half-century of televised Olympics, NBC's coverage of the Opening Ceremony from Vancouver was the MOST WATCHED EVER for a non-U.S. Winter Olympics with 67.5 million total viewers, 17 million more than Torino in 2006 (50.2 million) and six million more than the tabloid-fueled 1994 Lillehammer Games (61.7 million) which stood for 16 years as the most-watched Opening Ceremony for a non-U.S. Games.

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on NBC averaged 32.6 million viewers, more than 10 million more and 47 percent higher than Torino (22.2 million) and earned a 17.3/30 national rating for an increase of 35 percent over Torino in 2006 (12.8/21).

The 32.6 million average viewers is the most for a non-U.S. Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in 16 years - just below the 33.8 million for the tabloid-fueled Lillehammer Games in 1994. The 17.3/30 national household rating is also the best for a non-U.S. Winter Games since Lillehammer.

The Washington Post said that "the Winter Games got off to a splendiferous start with the Opening Ceremony - with images that rivaled that of 'Avatar.' -- All of it was rendered splendid by NBC's HD cameras and enhanced by discreet commentary from the anchors."

NON-U.S. WINTER GAMES OPENING CEREMONY TOTAL AUDIENCE:

1. VANCOUVER - 2010 - 67.5 Million
2. *Lillehammer - 1994 - 62.0 million
3. Nagano - 1998 - 52.4 million
4. Torino - 2006 - 50.2 million
5. Albertville - 1992 - 46.7 million

*Fueled by the tabloid coverage of the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding scandal.

NBC Universal, broadcasting its record 12th Olympics the most Olympics broadcast by any network, will present more than 835 hours of Vancouver Olympic Winter Games coverage - representing the most total hours ever for a Winter Olympics, more than the last two Winter Olympics combined, and the most live hours ever for a Winter Games.

The Vancouver Games are the first Winter Olympics to be presented entirely in high definition.

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games
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