Every four years, the Summer Olympic Games draw huge television ratings. This year, those ratings are coming with controversy due to NBC’s decision to tape delay the most popular events of the 2012 London Games for primetime programming. It’s a decision that has left many across the country upset they can’t watch some events live, but for Fox News Edge anchor Brad Reed, it makes perfect sense.
“The most money NBC can make is by showing the best events in primetime…advertisers pay more for that,” said Reed.
Even though Americans are watching five hours after the events occur, the ratings are some of the highest ever.
“Forty million viewers tuned in to see the opening games. They’re averaging 35 million viewers per night. The key demo, those 18 to 45-year-olds, who the advertisers want to watch, that’s huge right now,” said Reed.
But Reed believes that the live viewing is something newer generations want, and networks may change their ways.
“Sooner or later the younger generation, the generation that views more events on their phones, the generation that wants to see things live and tweet about it live, sooner or later advertisers and networks will have to realize that…what’s happening in the 2012 Olympics will not be acceptable,” said Reed.
For Reed, knowing about the result of an event doesn’t prevent him from watching the Olympics.
“If I know that Phelps lost, and did horrible, I still kinda wanna see that and see his reaction,” said Reed.
by Hayden Herrera