Ad-supported cable recorded significant primetime audience growth during the first full week of Winter Olympics coverage. During Week #21 of the 2001/02 TV season (February 11–17), according to
Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau analysis of Nielsen data, ad-supported cable’s average primetime U.S. household delivery rose 1.5 million homes (+6.0 percent) versus the same period last year.
NBC’s major gains from its Olympics coverage came mostly at the expense of the other Big 4 national broadcast TV networks. In Week #21, ABC delivered 3.8 million fewer homes (–43.7 percent) in
primetime than the year before; CBS lost 2.2 million homes (–24.1 percent); and FOX’s delivery declined by 1.7 million homes (–25.5 percent). ABC’s primetime delivery for the week was its lowest-ever
since CAB began tracking primetime audiences in 1991.
