First ratings numbers for the 2012 Olympics prove to be a huge hit for the Nine Network.

On the first day of competition, Nine pulls out a huge 48% share on its primary channel and a staggering 51.7% across the network.

Trying to make sense of the ratings numbers will prove a challenge for many. Nine’s broadcast is divided into various sub-sections, most at several hours duration. This means the numbers will be naturally lower than a traditional half hour of television, so the nightly share (6pm-midnight) is a much better indicator of how Nine has performed.

Yesterday across Nine / Gem combined it averaged:

D1 Early Evening: 1.96m (6:30 – 8:30)

D2 Evening: 1.79m (8:30 – 10:30)

Opening Ceremony 1.72m

Opening Ceremony replay: 1.31m

D1 Late: 1.15m (10:30- 12:00)

D1 Overnight: 468,000

Only Nine’s 6pm – midnight content factors into its 51.7% share, thus excluding the Opening Ceremony. On that front it’s an excellent start for Nine.

By comparison the Beijing Opening Ceremony averaged a whopping 3.3m viewers, but played at a more frendlier 10pm Friday night broadcast. In comparison Athens averaged 3.03m viewers (on a Saturday morning) while Sydney erupted to 6.5m viewers average.

Ironically the top show of the day proved to be The Fresh Prince of Bel Air at 2.02m viewers. Why? Scheduled at 9:30am it netted the tail end of the Opening Ceremony which ran overtime!

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