Beijing Olympics most-watched in history

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Source: CCTV.com | 08-26-2008 09:27

The Nielson Company says a record 4.4 billion people, or about two-thirds of the world's population, watched the Beijing Olympic events. This has made the sporting spectacle the most watched Games in Olympic history.

The Nielson Company says a record 4.4 billion people,  or about two-thirds of the world's population, watched  the Beijing Olympic events. This has made the sporting  spectacle the most watched Games in Olympic history.

The company drew TV audience data from 38 countries and regions, including host nation China, the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Italy and Australia. The number of viewers for the Beijing Games exceeded those achieved by the 2004 Athens Olympics, which attracted 3.9 billion viewers. Meanwhile, the Sydney Games in 2000 had 3.6 billion viewers. In China, the games have attracted nearly everyone's attention. CCTV's market survey department says more than 81 percent of the Chinese population closely followed the games through TV, radio, the Internet, or new media like TV on mobile phones. During the 16 days of competition, the number of viewers peaked on Tuesday, August 12th. 87 percent of the Chinese population watched the live broadcasts. And the most-watched event was when China won its first gold medal in the women's 48-kilogram weight-lifting event on Saturday, August 9th. And the date shows that table tennis, diving, gymnastics, basketball and volleyball remain among the favorites for Chinese viewers.

Editor:Meng Rui