Chosun reported, “There had been increasing curiosity surrounding Rain’s participation in the ceremony, because his agency refused to confirm it. On Monday, the agency finally broke its silence, saying, “Rain signed a contract to perform at the closing ceremony some three months ago when the International Olympic Committee made an official request. But the contract required us to keep it confidential.”

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Image courtesy of Chosun

211 MILLION WATCH BEIJING GAMES ON NBC UNIVERSAL THROUGH 16 DAYS, SURPASSING THE ATLANTA GAMES’ 209 MILLION

86 Million Watch on NBC Universal’s Cable Nets ; 86% of All U.S. TV Households Have Tuned In

NEW YORK – August 24, 2008 –Through 16 days, NBC Universal’s Beijing Olympic coverage has reached 211 million viewers and has been viewed by more Americans than any event in U.S. television history, according to data provided by Nielsen Media Research. The Beijing Games have surpassed the 1996 Atlanta Games, which were viewed by 209 million Americans. The 211 million viewers are 11 million more than the first 16 days for Athens (200 million) and 5 million more than the Atlanta Games (206 million). NBCU’s cable networks through 16 days have already reached 86 million, surpassing the 17-day viewership total for any previous Olympics.

MOST VIEWED EVENTS IN U.S. TV HISTORY:

1. *2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 211 million (*through 16 days)

2. 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, 209 million (17 days)

3. 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, 204 million (16 days)

4 . 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, 203 million (17 days)

5. 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, 194 million (17 days)

· The Beijing Olympic 16-day average primetime viewership is 27.7 million, 11 percent ahead of Athens in 2004 (24.9 million). NBC’s average of a 16.2 rating, 28 share is the best through the final Saturday for a Summer Olympics outside the U.S. since Barcelona in 1992 (17.3/33), and is a seven percent jump from Athens in 2004 (15.2/27).

· Saturday night garnered 43 million total viewers in primetime and 16.5 million average viewers. The night earned a 10.2 rating/19 share. The comparable night in Athens did an 11.1 rating/21 share and averaged 18.0 million viewers.

BEIJING GAMES BOOST NBC UNIVERSAL’S CABLE NETS:

Through 16 days, 86 million have watched the coverage on NBC Universal’s cable networks, a 25 percent gain from the first 16 days of the Athens Games (69 million) and more than the 17-day total viewership for any previous Olympics (Athens, 69 million).

TAMi FOR FRIDAY: The TAMi (Total Audience Measurement Index) measures the 3600 hours of programming during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, including Television (P2+ reach), Online (Unique Users), Mobile (WAP unique users and Mobile VOD unique users) and TV VOD (unique users). Below is the TAMi measurement through Friday, Aug. 22:

Friday, August 22: 79.8 million

TV: 73.3 million, ONLINE 6.1 million, Mobile 421k, TV VOD: n/a

Thursday, Aug. 21: 87.7 million

Wednesday, Aug. 20: 91.2 million

Tuesday, Aug. 19: 95.5 million

Monday, Aug. 18: 94.4 million

Sunday, Aug. 17: 107.4 million

Saturday, Aug. 16: 108.0 million

Friday, Aug. 15: 95.1 million

Thursday, Aug. 14: 101.6 million

Wednesday, Aug. 13: 101.0 million

Tuesday, Aug. 12: 105.1 million

Monday, Aug. 11: 103.2 million

Sunday, Aug. 10: 113.1 million

Saturday, Aug. 9: 97.8 million

Friday, Aug. 8: 74.6 million

*A complete TAMi through Friday, Aug. 22 is available at NBC Media Village at www.nbcumv.com. Click TAMi graphic on right side of the page.

NBC Universal, broadcasting its record 11th Olympics and surpassing ABC for the most Olympics broadcast by any network, is presenting an unprecedented 3,600 hours of Beijing Olympic Games coverage, the most ambitious single media project in history featuring the most live coverage (nearly 2,900 live hours in total), across the most platforms, of any Summer Olympics in history.

# # #

The Olympic Games has concluded and for 16 days, we watched athletes all over the world compete in the world’s grandest stage.

We watched Michael Phelps set records, the Redeem Team bring back the gold for the USA, we have seen Dara Torres in her early 40’s (the first swimmer to compete in the Olympics over 40-years-old, and her fifth Olympics) come close to another gold medal, men’s volleyball bounce back from tragedy to win the gold, women’s soccer win another and so many competitions that will definitely stick into my mind.

In the end, the USA scored the most medals and China as expected won the most gold medals. China’s dedication in the Olympics showed as the diving team was flawless, gymnastics (despite the criticism and rumors surrounding the age of the athletes) did a phenomenal job.

I also was awed by the speed of the Jamaican’s especially with Usain Bolt and beating Michael Johnson’s 200m record.

I have to say that I’m a bit disappointed to hear softball and baseball to be removed from the Olympic games for the next two Olympics. This is not a sport dominated the the US, this is a sport that people enjoyed competing worldwide and to find out these two sports are being eliminated temporarily is a surprise. Japan won the softball gold and S. Korea for the baseball gold and the close competitions are examples of why the sport should remain.

Now why are the two sports being eliminated? According to news articles, baseball and softball is not watched in Europe and seven of the eight International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidents have hailed from Europe.

It’s bad enough that unlike basketball, professional players are unable to compete. Could you imagine pro’s from the USA, Japan, Korea, Cuba, etc. competing in the Olympics, granted the games are during Baseball season and not sure how that would have played out but that would have been amazing.

But then there are really ridiculous rules such as, if there is an 11th inning, two people are put on bases and the team up to hit can select anyone to hit the ball. Granted, an interesting way to eliminate long matches I suppose.

But baseball and softball, no more for the next two Olympics? Surprising isn’t it?

Overrall, I felt that this Summer’s Olympic games were exciting to watch and with the games heading to the London for 2012, that’s definitely going to be quite interesting and quite exciting.

BEIJING – August 23, 2008 – Through just 14 days, NBC Universal’s Beijing Olympic coverage has reached 207 million viewers just two million below the 17-day total for the Atlanta Games, the most viewed event in U.S. television history according to data provided by Nielsen Media Research. The 207 million viewers are 11 million more than the first 14 days for Athens (196 million) and 5 million more than the Atlanta Games (202 million). NBCU’s cable networks through 14 days have already reached 84 million, surpassing the 17-day viewership total for any previous Olympics.

MOST VIEWED EVENTS IN U.S. TV HISTORY:
1. 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, 209 million (17 days)
2. *2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 207 million (*through 14 days)
3. 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, 204 million (16 days)
4 . 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, 203 million (17 days)
5. 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, 194 million (17 days)

· The Beijing Olympic 14-day average primetime viewership is 28.6 million, 11 percent ahead of Athens in 2004 (25.7 million). NBC’s average of a 16.8 rating, 29 share in households is the best through the second Thursday for a Summer Olympics outside the U.S. since Barcelona in 1992 (17.8/34) and is an eight percent jump from Athens in 2004 (15.6/27).

· Thursday night garnered 58 million total viewers in primetime and 22.4 million average viewers, a four percent gain from the comparable night in Athens (21.5 million). The night earned a 13.8 rating/23 share, equal to the comparable night in Athens.

BEIJING GAMES BOOST NBC UNIVERSAL’S CABLE NETS:
Through 14 days, 84 million have watched the coverage on NBC Universal’s cable networks, a 29 percent gain from the first 14 days of the Athens Games (65 million) and more than the 17-day total viewership for any previous Olympics (Athens, 68.6 million).

TAMi FOR WEDNESDAY: The TAMi (Total Audience Measurement Index) measures the 3600 hours of programming during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, including Television (P2+ reach), Online (Unique Users), Mobile (WAP unique users and Mobile VOD unique users) and TV VOD (unique users). Below is the TAMi measurement through Wednesday, Aug. 20:

Wednesday, Aug. 20 91.1 million
TV: 84.5 million, ONLINE: 6.2 million, MOBILE: 426k, TV VOD: n/a
Tuesday, Aug. 19 95.4 million
Monday, Aug. 18: 94.4 million
Sunday, Aug. 17: 107.4 million
Saturday, Aug. 16: 108.0 million
Friday, Aug. 15: 95.1 million
Thursday, Aug. 14: 101.6 million
Wednesday, Aug. 13: 101.0 million
Tuesday, Aug. 12: 105.1 million
Monday, Aug. 11: 103.1 million
Sunday, Aug. 10: 113.1 million
Saturday, Aug. 9: 97.8 million
Friday, Aug. 8: 74.6 million

*A complete TAMi through Aug. 20 is available at NBC Media Village at www.nbcumv.com. Click TAMi graphic on right side of the page.

NBC Universal, broadcasting its record 11th Olympics and surpassing ABC for the most Olympics broadcast by any network, is presenting an unprecedented 3,600 hours of Beijing Olympic Games coverage, the most ambitious single media project in history featuring the most live coverage (nearly 2,900 live hours in total), across the most platforms, of any Summer Olympics in history.

# # #

I’ve been a big supporter of TEAM USA for so many Olympics. I remember being so involved as a young kid for the 1980 Winter Olympics and watching the “Miracle on Ice” when the USA beat Russia and then Finland.

But I have always been passionate about USA Basketball at the Olympics. I started getting into it back in 1988 for the Seoul Olympics, knowing that professionals from the NBA couldn’t compete but seeing David Robinson on the team was exciting. USA Basketball came in third with a bronze medal but the following year, when the announcement came that USA Basketball can now bring in professional players, who would imagine a team with the greats of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippin, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, David Robinson and Christian Laettner all together for one team.

That was just amazing and I remember buying everything “Dream Team” in 1992. The cards, the soundtrack, Olympics merchandise… You name it!

In 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics, Dream Team II was back with a few from 1992’s Dream Team making a return and some new comers on the team such as Anfernee Hardaway, Grant Hill, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller and Mitch Richmond won another gold!

But in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, despite having Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Gary Payton, Kevin Garnett, Steve Smith and other talents…the team nearly lost against Lithuania who nearly beat the USA team with a 3-pointer. USA won gold but this close game was a sign that International Basketball was no longer the same as the years of USA professionals will now have to counter with their own fellow NBA superstars from other countries.

And then came the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens, Greece. I watched this one and hoping with the addition of the new young stars like Carmello Anthony, Lebron James, Dwayne Wayde would be in it but when many pro’s pulled out because of injuries, I figured there were still a good number of professionals that can win the gold. And I just remembered sitting in awe and watching Team USA losing against Spain 102-94 and then against Argentina 89-81. The team managed to capture a bronze medal but this was a team that comprised of NBA professionals. Has International Basketball come to the point where the years of USA dominance was a thing of the past?

Well, here we are in 2008, TEAM USA aka “The Redeem Team” has beaten Argentina 101-81 and will be going against Spain for the gold medal.

This team has really been exciting to watch with Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wayde, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince, Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd, Carlos Boozer, Michael Redd and Derron Williams again dominating the boards and fortunately, with the exception of one game against Australia, TEAM USA has won in a considerable margin.

Of course, there is one more game left! And I’m excited about it! Hope to see the “Redeem Team” win the gold

BEIJING – August 21, 2008 – NBC’s primetime coverage of the Beijing Olympics Thursday begins at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and features live coverage of the men’s beach volleyball gold medal final where USA’s Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser take on Brazil (Marcio Araujo/Fabio Luiz). In track & field, the 400m gold medal final is highlighted by USA’s Jeremy Wariner who looks to defend his 2004 Olympic gold medal in the event. In the men’s 110m hurdles gold medal final representing the USA are David Oliver and David Payne. In the women’s 200m, 2007 World Champion Allyson Felix looks to take gold from defending 2004 Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell- Brown of Jamaica. Also in track & field, men’s triple jump gold medal finals and day one of the decathlon featuring 2004 Olympic silver medalist Brian Clay. In the women’s platform diving gold medal final, USA’s Laura Wilkinson, 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the event, looks to take gold for the second and last time as she’s announced her retirement after these Games.

Wednesday’s coverage continues with the following:

NBC DAYTIME:
Equestrian’s individual jumping gold medal final and women’s water polo bronze or gold medal matches highlights Wednesday in daytime. Also, track & field’s decathlon and rhythmic gymnastics competition along with a special softball gold medal final report.

NBC LATENIGHT:
Live in latenight is a men’s volleyball semifinal match. Also, track & field’s women’s javelin gold medal final and men’s beach volleyball bronze medal match.

CABLE:
Live on USA Network are two of the most highly anticipated USA women’s gold medal finals with softball’s last appearance in an Olympic Games and USA women’s soccer taking on Brazil, led by arguably the best female player in the world, Marta. Live on MSNBC, two women’s basketball semifinal games between USA and Russia and China and Australia. Also live, the women’s soccer bronze medal game with Germany taking on Japan and women’s water polo with Australia vs. Hungary.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21 – DAY 13

NBC and NBC HD
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Track & Field - Decathlon
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Competition
Women’s Water Polo – Gold or Bronze Medal Match
Equestrian – Individual Jumping Gold Medal Final
Softball – Gold Medal Game Report

8:00 p.m. – Midnight
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s 400m, 110m Hurdles, Triple Jump
Women’s 200m
Decathlon Day 1
Women’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final
Men’s Beach Volleyball – Gold Medal Match (LIVE)

12:35 a.m. – 2:00 a.m
Men’s Volleyball – Semifinal (LIVE)
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Javelin Throw
Men’s Beach Volleyball – Bronze Medal Match

CNBC and CNBC HD
Midnight - 2:00 a.m.
Women’s Track & Field – 20k Walk

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wrestling – Freestyle 84kg, 96kg, 120kg Gold Medal Finals

USA and USA HD
2:00 a.m. – Noon
Women’s Soccer – Gold Medal Match (LIVE)
Softball – Gold Medal Game (LIVE)
Women’s Beach Volleyball – Bronze Medal Match China vs. Brazil
Men’s Swimming – Marathon
Canoeing – Semifinals
Women’s Table Tennis – Quarterfinal
Men’s Table Tennis

MSNBC
5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Women’s Basketball – Semifinal USA vs. Russia (LIVE
Semifinal China vs. Australia (LIVE)
Women’s Soccer – Bronze Medal Match Germany vs. Japan (LIVE)
Women’s Water Polo – Bronze Medal Match Australia vs. Hungary (LIVE)
Wrestling – Freestyle 84kg, 96kg, 120kg Competition
Women’s Handball – Semifinals Norway vs. Korea
Women’s Volleyball – Semifinal China vs. Brazil
Men’s Field Hockey – Semifinal Netherlands vs. Germany

OXYGEN
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Gymnastics on Oxygen Gala

TELEMUNDO
2:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Diving – Platform Competition and Semifinal

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Women’s Soccer – Gold Medal Match (LIVE)
Women’s Beach Volleyball – Gold Medal Match

Midnight – 1:00 a.m.
TBA

UNIVERSAL HD
24-hour MSNBC & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Women’s Final
6:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. Bronze Medal (LIVE)
9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Gold Medal (LIVE)
11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Medal Ceremony (LIVE)
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Cycle repeats

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL
8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Women’s Semifinals
8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Game #1 (LIVE)
10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Game #2 (LIVE)
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Game Re-airs
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m Game Re-airs

NBCOlympics.com - LIVE STREAMING BROADBAND COVERAGE:
Baseball – Semifinal
Men’s & Women’s Field Hockey
Men’s Modern Pentathlon – Swimming, Riding & Running
Women’s Modern Pentathlon – Shooting & Fencing
Sailing – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Taekwondo – 68kg Gold Medal Finals, 80kg Competition
Women’s Taekwondo – 57kg Gold Medal Finals, 67kg Competition
Women’s Basketball – Semifinals
Canoeing – Flatwater Semifinals
Women’s Handball – Competition & Semifinals
Men’s Handball
Equestrian – Individual Jumping Gold Medal Final
Women’s Soccer – Gold & Bronze Medal Games
Softball – Gold Medal Game
Men’s & Women’s Table Tennis – Singles Competition & Semifinals
Men’s Wrestling – Freestyle 84kg, 96kg, 120kg
Water Polo

NBC PRIMETIME HIGHLIGHTS:
· Defending Olympic gold medalist and two-time reigning world champion Jeremy Wariner – whose agent and mentor is the only man to repeat as Olympic 400m champion Michael Johnson – has been dominant in his signature event, the 400m, though fellow American LaShawn Merritt topped Wariner at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Led by Wariner, the USA swept the medals in Athens and at the 2007 World Championships, and a repeat sweep with Wariner and Merritt at the fore in Beijing is possible.
· Four years ago, teen sensation Allyson Felix was a rising star and won the 200m silver in her Olympic debut. Last year at the World Championships, she dominated the field and is the favorite for gold in Beijing. Also watch for Jamaican sprint queen Veronica Campbell-Brown, the defending Olympic champion in the 200m.
· While expecting a showdown with Athens gold medalist Liu Xiang in his home country, instead world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba will contend with a pair of Americans, David Oliver and David Payne, in a bid for his first Olympic medal. Also in contention for an upset is 2005 World champion Ladji Doucoure of France.
· Who’s the “World’s Greatest Athlete?” It just may be reigning Olympic and world champion Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic, who will face a strong challenge from his good friend and Athens silver medalist Bryan Clay in Day 1 of the two-day decathlon competition.
· Laura Wilkinson is used to being the underdog. In Sydney she came back from eighth place in the final round to win an unexpected gold medal, competing with broken bones in her foot. Then after a fifth-place finish in Athens, Wilkinson came back to win a world championship one year later. Now, at age 30, she plays the underdog again, this time behind two Chinese teens half her age: Wang Xin, the 2007 world champion, and Chen Ruolin, 2008 World Cup champion.

NBC DAYTIME HIGHLIGHTS:
· Gold is at stake in women’s water polo for the third time in Olympic history, and Team USA, led by Brenda Villa, could be looking to add one to its collection after winning silver in 2000 and bronze in 2004.

NBC LATENIGHT HIGHLIGHTS:
· If you like volleyball, this show is for you. Indoors, you’ll find live semifinal action. On the sand, it’s the men’s bronze medal match in beach volleyball.

USA NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS:
· This could be a golden day for Team USA in women’s team sports live on USA. First, the USA Softball Team is expected to play for its fourth – and perhaps final – Olympic gold medal (softball has been removed from the Olympic program beginning in 2012). Also, the USA Women’s Soccer Team, led by a new generation of stars is looking to repeat as Olympic champion, as they take on Marta and Team Brazil.

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS:
· The USA Women’s Basketball Team has won three straight Olympic gold medals, and Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Lisa Leslie & Co. and today will take on Russia in the semifinal, live on MSNBC.

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS:
· Gold medals are on the line as the big men take the mat in Freestyle Wrestling’s 84kg, 96kg and 120kg Finals. Daniel Cormier, in the 96kg class, is one of Team USA’s top hopes, and New Jersey’s Steve Mocco makes his Olympic debut in the 120kg class, representing a family of athletes.

OXYGEN HIGHLIGHTS:
· An encore presentation of the gymnastics Champions Gala, featuring the men’s and women’s stars of the Beijing gymnastics competition one last time as they perform routines set to their favorite music.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22 – DAY 14

NBC and NBC HD
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Track & Field – Decathlon, Final Day
Men’s Basketball – Semifinal (LIVE)
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Competition
Women’s Table Tennis – Gold Medal Final

8:00 p.m. – Midnight
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s 4×100m Relay, Pole Vault
Women’s 4×100m Relay, Long Jump, 5000m
Decathlon 1500m
Men’s Diving – Platform Semifinal (LIVE)
Platform Competition

12:35 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Women’s Volleyball – Bronze Medal Match (LIVE)
Men’s Table Tennis – Singles Semifinals
Synchronized Swimming – Team Competition

CNBC and CNBC HD
Midnight – 4:00 a.m.
Boxing – Semifinals (51kg, 57kg, 64kg, 75kg, 91kg)(LIVE)
Baseball – Semifinal (LIVE)

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Boxing – Semifinals (48kg, 54kg, 60kg, 69kg, 81kg, +91kg)

USA and USA HD
2:00 a.m. – Noon
Men’s Basketball – Semifinal (LIVE)
Men’s Water Polo – Semifinal (LIVE)
Men’s Track & Field – 50k Walk
Women’s Table Tennis – Singles Semifinal
Men’s Table Tennis - Quarterfinals
Canoeing – Gold Medal Finals

MSNBC
5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Bronze Medal Match (LIVE)
Baseball – Semifinal
Men’s Volleyball – Semifinal
Women’s Field Hockey – Bronze Medal Game
Women’s Modern Pentathlon
Women’s Mountain Bike
Men’s Handball - Semifinal

OXYGEN
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Women’s Field Hockey – Gold Medal Game

TELEMUNDO
2:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Women’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final
Track & Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Beach Volleyball – Gold Medal Match

6:55 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Men’s Soccer – Bronze Medal Match (LIVE)
Men’s Basketball – Semifinal (LIVE)

11:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Men’s Soccer – Gold Medal Match (LIVE)

UNIVERSAL HD
24-hour MSNBC & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Men’s Bronze Medal and Women’s Final Encore
7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Men’s Bronze Medal (LIVE)
9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Women’s Bronze Medal
10:45 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. Women’s Gold Medal Final
12:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Women’s Medal Ceremony
1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Match Re-airs

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL
8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Men’s Seminfinals
8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Game #1 (LIVE)
10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Game #2 (LIVE)
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Game Re-airs
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Game Re-airs

NBCOlympics.com - LIVE STREAMING BROADBAND COVERAGE:
Baseball – Semifinal & Bronze Medal Game
Women’s Field Hockey – Gold Medal Game
Men’s Field Hockey
Women’s Modern Pentathlon – Swimming, Riding & Running
Men’s Taekwondo – 80kg Gold Medal Finals, +80kg Competition
Women’s Taekwondo – 67kg Gold Medal Finals, +67kg Competition
Men’s Basketball – Semifinals
Canoeing – Flatwater Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Mountain Bike
Men’s Handball – Competition & Semifinals
Women’s Handball – Competition & Bronze Medal Game
Men’s Soccer – Bronze & Gold Medal Matches
Men’s Table Tennis – Quarterfinals
Women’s Table Tennis – Singles Bronze & Gold Medal Matches
Water Polo

NBC PRIMETIME HIGHLIGHTS:
· The World’s Fastest Men and Women race for more medals in the men’s and women’s 4×100m relay finals, as the American teams look to return to the top of the podium after falling short in Athens. On the men’s side, triple world champion Tyson Gay attempts to lead Team USA to gold against Team Jamaica’s featuring the lightning fast duo of Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell. Allyson Felix and Lauryn Williams are expected to lead the way for the American women.
· The world’s top two decathletes, the Czech Republic’s Roman Sebrle and America’s Bryan Clay, who finished 1-2 in Athens, may be competing head-to-head once more to determine who is the “World’s Greatest Athlete” as the decathlon concludes with five events on Day 2. Gold medals are also at stake in the women’s 5000m, the women’s long jump, and the men’s pole vault, where American Brad Walker is the reigning world champion.
· The final diving competition of the Beijing Olympics, the men’s 10m platform, is perhaps the most wide open. As usual, China is expected to field two strong contenders, but this event has been a relative weak spot for the host country in recent years. American teens and training partners David Boudia (who performs among the most difficult sets of dives in the world) and Thomas Finchum give Team USA two legitimate contenders. Russia’s Gleb Gelperin is the reigning world champion. And look for emerging British sensation Tom Daley, competing in his first Olympics at age 14.

NBC DAYTIME HIGHLIGHTS:
· Four years ago in Athens, the unthinkable happened: Team USA failed to advance to the men’s basketball final, falling to eventual champion Argentina. In today’s live semifinal, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant look to lead the “Redeem Team” back to the gold medal game.

NBC LATENIGHT HIGHLIGHTS:
· Grace and beauty are on display as the world’s top synchronized swimming teams compete for a berth in the gold medal final. Russia, which dominated the 2007 World Championships, has won the last two Olympic gold medals and should win a third straight in Beijing.

USA NETWORK:
· Catch live team sport action in men’s basketball, featuring a semifinal showdown between two of the world’s best teams.
· Olympic gold is on the line in the longest Track & Field event at the Games: the Men’s 50km Walk.

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS:
· The women’s competition in modern pentathlon features American Sheila Taormina, who will be competing in her fourth Olympics in her third different sport (she was a swimming relay gold medalist in 1996 and competed in triathlon in 2000 and 2004).
· Team sport competitions near their conclusion with medals at stake in men’s soccer and women’s field hockey plus semifinal action in baseball, men’s volleyball and men’s handball.

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS:
· Catch live coverage of boxing semifinals in multiple weight classes.

OXYGEN HIGHLIGHTS:
· Watch as Olympic gold is determined in women’s field hockey gold medal game.

# # #

Chosun reported, “Hwang Young-cho, the marathon gold medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, was my first sporting hero and has left me with an indelible memory. I saw him running on TV in China, while living a precarious refugee life there after escaping from North Korea. It gave me courage. I was so filled with emotion at seeing my first South Korean athlete win the race that I almost wept. At the same time, I was indignant at the North Korean regime: even allowing that it was in confrontation with the South, it seemed wrong that it had never shown the public any South Korean athletes in action.”

“Sixteen years have elapsed, but the North Korean authorities still refuse to show Olympic events live; they only make brief reports on medal-winning North Korean athletes. Though 10 years have passed since we started the Sunshine Policy, most North Koreans don’t know what the taegukgi, our national flag, looks like.”

More

“This is not about one country versus another, the Chinese have been fabulous, it’s about one routine versus another.” — Daggett

“If there’s an Olympic record for looking like you’re not trying, he’s won that as well.” – Hammond on Bolt

BEIJING – August 19 2008 – NBC’s primetime coverage of the 2008 Beijing Games continued Monday with the women’s individual gold medal finals in uneven bars and men’s gymnastics individual gold medal finals in rings and vault, track gold medal finals and live beach volleyball.

Below are highlights from NBC’s primetime coverage:

TRACK ANALYST ATO BOLDON TO BOB COSTAS ON USAIN BOLT’S 100M WIN: “So far the performance, by far, of these games.”

BOLDON ON BOLT’S ABILITY DESPITE HIS HEIGHT: “I mean this guy could be on the ‘Redeem Team,’ and here he is just destroying guys who are a lot shorter.”

BOLDON ON EARLY CELBRATION BY BOLT IN THE 100M: “It is, and was, a display that should not have been there.”

TRACK PLAY-BY-PLAY COMMENTATOR TOM HAMMOND ON BOLT’S CELEBRATION: “Some say his youthful exuberance is compelling and others say it’s borderline bad sportsmanship.”

HAMMOND ON BOLT’S 200M SEMIFINAL RACE WHERE HE WON BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN: “If there’s an Olympic record for looking like you’re not trying, he’s won that as well.”

GYMNASTICS ANALYST TIM DAGGETT ON QUESTIONABLE JUDGING: “What it comes down to Bob (Costas), is that the people on the floor (judges) have to follow the rules.”

DAGGETT ON NASTIA LIUKIN LOSING TO CHINA’S HE KEXIN IN THE TIEBREAKER ON THE UNEVEN BARS:
“I think that they dropped the ball on this one (the judges).”

“It’s a very convoluted process.”

“This is not about one country versus another, the Chinese have been fabulous, it’s about one routine versus another, and I thought that the one girl wearing the red, white, and blue was definitely better today.”

“It should not have gotten to that point (a tiebreaker).”

DAGGETT ON WATCHING LIUKIN’S MOM WAVING TO HER DAUGHTER: “She should be waving to an Olympic gold medalist on the uneven bars and that is my very strong opinion.”

DAGGETT ON THE FACT THAT NO JUDGES ARE ALLOWED FROM COMPETITORS COUNTRIES: “The problem is you end up with judges that aren’t that experienced.”

“The one that really jumps out at me is the Australian judge that took a full point from Nastia Liukin and only .07 for He Kexin.”

BELA KAROYLI TO BOB COSTAS ON CONFUSION OVER GYMNASTICS SCORING AND JUDGING THROUGHOUT OLYMPICS:
“This is adding to the already brewing controversy and frustration in the heart of the athletes including the viewers.”

BOB COSTAS DELIVERING DR. NANCY SNYDERMAN’S TIPS FOR VIEWERS LOSING SLEEP WATCHING THE OLYMPICS:

1) Stay hydrated

2) Tell yourself you only need four hours of sleep - really

3) Wear sunglasses to hide red eyes

4) Crack up your iPod and listen to anything Michael Phelps does

5) Skip work (you’re never going to see an Olympics like this again anyway)

# # #

Olympic Coverage Boosts NBCU Cable Viewership; NBC “Nightly News” & “Today” Increase Leads over Competition

NBCOlympics.com on MSN Serves 40.7 Million Video Streams, More Than 750 Million Page Views, More than 36 Million Uniques

BEIJING – August 19, 2008 – More than 196 million viewers have watched the Beijing Olympics on the networks of NBC Universal through the first 10 days, already making it the fourth most watched television event in U.S. history, only behind the complete totals of the 1996 Atlanta (209 million), 1994 Lillehammer (204 million) and 2004 Athens (203 million) Games. The 196 million through 10 days is 11 million more than the first ten days for Athens (185 million) and three million more than the Atlanta Games (193 million), which was the most viewed television event in U.S. history. The ten-day total for these Games now surpasses the final overall viewership totals for the Barcelona Games (192 million) in 1992 and the Seoul Games (194 million) in 1988.

The Beijing Olympic 10-day average primetime viewership is 29.8 million, 14 percent ahead of Athens in 2004 (26.2 million). NBC’s average of 17.2 rating/30 share is the best through the second Sunday for a Summer Olympics outside the U.S. since Barcelona in 1992 (18.6/35) and is a nine percent jump from Athens in 2004 (15.8/28).

NBC Universal’s 3,600 hours of Beijing Olympic coverage is not only fueling record-breaking Olympic viewership, but also casting an Olympic “halo” across the many different divisions of NBC Universal. The unprecedented Olympic coverage has driven record numbers of viewers to NBCU’s cable networks; it has also produced impressive gains in viewership and competitive advantage for “NBC Nightly News,” NBC News’ “Today,” and NBC’s affiliated stations. NBCOlympics.com has had a record number of page views, unique users and video streams, surpassing its total number from the entire Torino and Athens Games combined.

Sunday night garnered 75 million total viewers in primetime and 26.8 million average viewers, a three percent gain from the comparable night in Athens (26.0). The night earned a 15.8 rating/28 share, which is even with Athens’ comparable night which featured three USA track & field gold medals.

Here is a rundown of how Beijing Olympics “halo effect” benefited the various divisions and dayparts of NBC Universal:

“TODAY” AND NIGHTLY NEWS DOMINATE THE COMPETITION: Preliminary affiliate time period data indicates that TODAY will have its highest delivery since the Torino Games in February, 2006 (2/13/06) as well as its best advantage over GMA since the week of the 2000 Presidential election (11/6/00). “Nightly News” is on track for its best advantage over the competition since the week of the Brokaw/Williams transition (11/29/04).

NBC CABLE:
Through Sunday, Aug, 17, Olympics coverage on the cable networks of NBC Universal has reached 73.3 million average viewers, up 31 percent from August 2007 (56 million) and up 30 percent from the Athens Games.

USA NETWORK: Through Friday, Aug. 15, the Olympics on USA Network are averaging 960,000 viewers, up 39 percent from the same time periods in Aug. 2007, up 31 percent from the prior four-week viewer delivery before the Games and up 20 percent from the 2004 Athens Games.

MSNBC: Through Friday, Aug. 15, the Olympics on MSNBC are averaging 650,000 viewers, up 145 percent from the same time periods in Aug. 2007, up 137 percent from the prior four-week viewer delivery before the Games and up 22 percent from the 2004 Athens Games.

CNBC: Through Friday, Aug. 15, the Olympics on CNBC from 5-8pm are averaging 606,000 million viewers, up 143 percent from the same time periods in Aug. 2007, up 165 percent from the prior four-week viewer delivery before the Games and identical to the 2004 Athens Games.

OXYGEN: Through Friday, Aug. 15, the Olympics on Oxygen are averaging 658,000 viewers, up 190 percent from the same time periods in Aug. 2007, up 141 percent from the prior four-week viewer delivery before the Games. The week of August 11 saw Oxygen’s highest ever delivery for the M-F 6-8pm Olympic time period.

TELEMUNDO: Through Sunday, Aug. 17, Olympic coverage to-date on Telemundo has reached 12 million unique viewers, up 12 percent from the Athens Games. The Olympics on Telemundo are averaging nearly a quarter-million million viewers, up 88 percent from the same time periods in Aug. 2007 and up 87 percent from the prior four-week viewer delivery before the Games.

OLYMPICS POWERS NBC AFFILIATED STATIONS TO NO. 1:
For the Olympic period (August 8-17) every NBC affiliate in the metered markets ranks No.1 in their market on a total day (5a-5a) basis. Local News ratings for NBC’s metered market affiliates have shown significant increases from the prior four-week viewer delivery before the Games.
5-6am up 69%
6-7am up 35%
5-6pm up 23%
6-6:30pm up 27%
Late news up 67% despite the start times significantly later than normal.

OLYMPIC ZONE VIEWERSHIP INCREASES: “Olympic Zone” is a partnership between NBC Olympics and NBC affiliated stations. The 30-minute show airs prior to NBC’s primetime Olympic coverage and is showing significant ratings increases for many markets vs. the prior four-week ratings. The markets showing the biggest increases are:
1. San Francisco up 404%
2. Los Angeles up 395%
3. Miami up 336%
4. Atlanta up 288%
5. New York up 220%

“ACCESS HOLLYWOOD” UP 29% ON NBC AFFILIATED STATIONS: NBC Universal’s syndicated 30-minute newsmagazine “Access Hollywood,” with co-host Billy Bush anchoring from Beijing, airing preceding NBC’s primetime coverage of the Torino Games, shows a ratings increase of 29 percent on NBC affiliated stations compared to four-week period prior to the Olympics.

NBCOLYMPICS.COM ON MSN DRAWS MORE VIDEO STREAMS AND PAGE VIEWS THAN ATHENS AND TORINO COMBINED: Through the first 10 days of the Beijing Games, NBCOlympics.com has already generated 754.3 million page views, nearly 200 million more than the combined totals for the entire 17 days of the Torino and Athens Games (561.1 million).

· The 40.7 million video streams on the site are nearly four times the combined Torino and Athens total of 10.8 million.

· 36 million unique visitors to the site since the start of the Games are 42 percent higher than the total monthly unique visitors for the entire Torino and Athens Games combined.

· NBC Olympics mobile WAP site has amassed 21.4 million page views.

# # #

CRIEnglish.com reported, “The opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was carried by more than 1,600 unauthorized websites from Aug. 9 to 11, of which 85 percent were found in developed countries, said a Chinese official on Saturday.”

“Yan Xiaohong, vice minister of the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC), said the Chinese organizer and the International Olympic Committee had monitored the unauthorized broadcast after the opening ceremony. Besides overseas unauthorized websites, more than 100 websites in China were found.”

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