TV Overnights: Usain’s 100m Bolt wins 19 million viewers
Almost 19 million viewers tuned in to BBC One last night to see Usain Bolt win the 100m final in 9.63 seconds, just 00.5 seconds slower than his own world record.
Bolt’s new Olympic best – in a race which saw seven men finish under 10 seconds – easily attracted the peak ratings of the day with 18.7 million viewers and a 61.5% average audience share for BBC One.
The Beeb secured the top ratings all weekend with its coverage of the 2012 Games – reaching another high of 15.3 million viewers on Saturday night as Mo Farah claimed victory in the men’s 10,000m race.
Saturday
On ‘Super Saturday’ audiences flocked to BBC One to see coverage of the Olympics. More than six million viewers tuned in to the women’s and men’s lightweight double sculls final, which saw GB walk away with a silver and gold medal.
The tennis proved to be a popular choice at lunchtime, pulling in over 5.5 million viewers. By 6pm, viewing figures had climbed to more than 8.2 million during cycling in the Velodrome.
The second night of the athletics saw ratings reach a peak of 15.3 million viewers as Team GB won three more gold medals – for Jessica Ennis’ heptathlon performance, Mo Farrah’s 10,000m run and Greg Rutherford’s long jump.
Elsewhere, ITV1’s Midsomer Murders banked just over two million peak viewers in the 8pm to 10pm slot, while Agatha Christie’s Marple secured a high of 1.4 million viewers in the early evening 6pm to 8pm slot.
Sunday
Sunday was another good day for Team GB, with a gold from Ben Ainslie in Weymouth and Andy Murray in the men’s tennis final. Gymnast Louis Smith won silver in the pommel horse after narrowly missing out on a gold medal, while Murray and partner Laura Robson claimed a silver in the mixed doubles final.
Lunchtime coverage on BBC One, presented by Clare Balding, peaked with 7.2 million viewers for the men’s tennis action. The afternoon slot with Sue Barker and Jake Humphrey hit a high of 9.3 million viewers for cycling and more tennis. After that, ratings continued to soar during the build up to the 100m final.
BBC One’s 6.50pm to 10.15pm coverage secured 13.6 million average viewers and a 52% audience share – peaking with 18.7 million during Bolt’s impressive win.
ITV1’s alternative line-up featured The Zoo and A Touch of Frost. The second episode of The Zoo picked up a peak audience of more than 2.1 million viewers in the 7pm to 8pm slot, while the first of two A Touch of Frost pulled in 1.5 million average viewers in the 8pm to 10pm slot.
Overnight data is available each morning in mediatel.co.uk’s TV Database, with all BARB registered subscribers able to view reports for terrestrial networks and key multi-channel stations.