NBC's broadcast of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony from London was the most-watched opening ceremony for a Summer Games ever, averaging 40.7 million total viewers from 8 p.m. to midnight on Friday, according to Nielsen fast nationals.
The viewership was up 17% over the 2008 Beijing Games, which averaged 34.9 million viewers, and 2% higher than the 39.8 million viewers who watched the 1996 Atlanta opening ceremony.
London's opening ceremony also earned a 21.0 national household rating, the best for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics opening ceremony. The rating was up 12% up over Beijing's 18.8 rating and 44% higher than Athens' 14.6 rating in 2004.
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