http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/17/oly.nbcs.competition.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest
I think I know who that "strong American competitor" is...
NBC was knocked on its heels by the first night the Olympics went up against Fox's "American Idol" Tuesday. (See story.) Based on preliminary Nielsen Media Research estimates, "Idol" doubled the Olympics audience when they went head-to-head again on Wednesday.
The 17.9 million people who watched Wednesday made it the least-watched night of Winter Olympics competition since at least 1988, according to Nielsen.
Besides "Idol," viewers who aren't slalom-inclined have also had new episodes of "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," "Survivor" and "Dancing With the Stars" to choose from.
"In the past, the Winter Olympics have not had a lot of competition," said Stacey Lynn Koerner, analyst for the Initiative media agency, "because typically the other networks would lie down and say, 'why put our best stuff up against a powerhouse?' "
Through the first six days of Olympics broadcasts, the average Olympics viewership of 21 million people is down 36 percent from the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, 43 percent among the 18-to-49-year-old viewers advertisers prefer.
Wednesday night's ratings troubles were predictable for NBC: there was no figure skating scheduled, and no American won a gold medal that day. NBC compounded matters with a particularly deflating opening segment on an American speedskating team that lost amid dissension within its ranks.
It doesn't get any easier for NBC. The Olympics competed with a new "Survivor" episode on Thursday, as well as ABC's surprise hit "Dancing With the Stars."
Next week is women's figure skating, always the marquee event for Winter Olympics television viewers. NBC faces it, however, without Kwan and analysts say the network needs a strong American competitor to bring people in.
I think I know who that "strong American competitor" is...