Olympics bounce
back to beat 'Idol'
NBC averages 19.2 million total viewers to 17.8 million
By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 26, 2010
The fifth and final showdown between the Olympics and "American Idol" was a split decision.
Fox's smash reality show won the hour among adults 18-49, but NBC's Games coverage prevailed among total viewers.
"Idol" averaged a 6.4 18-49 rating and 17.8 million total viewers at 8 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, while the Olympics managed just a 4.4 rating in the hour and 19.2 million total viewers.
It marked the second time in five meetings that the Games, buoyed by ladies' figure skating, managed to top "Idol" among total viewers, and just the second time in six years that any show has done so.
But "Idol" was dominant for the fourth time among 18-49s, underscoring a recent Nielsen report saying that the Olympics' big ratings are being driven by older viewers.
Still, with "Idol" only lasting an hour, NBC was first for the night among 18-49s with a 5.8 average overnight rating and a 16 share.
Fox was second at 4.9/13, CBS third at 2.5/7, Univision fourth at 1.4/4, ABC fifth at 1.2/3 and CW sixth at 0.7/2.
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-six percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
Also, ratings for NBC’s Olympics are approximate as fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data, and last night's figure skating lasted well past 11 p.m.
Fox began the night in the lead with a 6.4 at 8 p.m. for “Idol,” followed by NBC with a 4.4 for the Olympics. CBS was third with a 3.7 for “Survivor,” Univision fourth with a 1.6 for “Hasta que el Dinero Nos Separe,” ABC fifth with a 1.1 for the presumable series finale of “The Deep End” and CW sixth with a 0.7 for a repeat of “The Vampire Diaries.”
At 9 p.m. NBC took the lead with a 6.5 for more Olympics, while Fox slid to second with a 3.5 for “Kitchen Nightmares.” CBS was third with a 2.2 for a repeat of “The Mentalist.” ABC and Univision tied for fourth at 1.3, ABC for a “Grey’s Anatomy” rerun and Univision for “Corazon Salvaje,” and CW was sixth with a 0.6 for a repeat of “Supernatural.”
NBC was first again at 10 p.m. with a 6.6 for the Olympics, with CBS second with a 1.8 for a repeat of “CSI.” Univision was third with a 1.4 for “Mujeres Asesinas” and ABC fourth with a 1.1 for a repeat of “Private Practice.”
NBC also led the night among households with a 13.3 average overnight rating and a 21 share. Fox was second at 7.4/11, CBS third at 6.0/9, ABC fourth at 2.8/4, Univision fifth at 1.8/3 and CW sixth at 1.1/2.
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