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Olympics' TV ratings soar

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Michael Phelps reacts after 8th gold medal
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps reacts after the men's 4 x 100m medley relay swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 17, 2008. Nearly 60 percent of Twin Cities television viewers were tuned to NBC's broadcast of the event.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images

There are a lot of people watching the Olympics this year, and that's been good news for NBC's affiliates in Minnesota.

This past weekend, nearly 40 million people watched during the half hour when Michael Phelps won his record eighth gold medal. It was the most-watched program on a Saturday night for N-B-C since an "Empty Nest" episode in February 1990. And it came on the heels of the Olympics opening ceremony, which was seen by more than 32 million viewers.

In the Twin Cities, NBC affiliate KARE-11 is getting its share of those viewers. When Phelps won his eighth gold Saturday night, nearly 60 percent of the television sets in use were tuned to the program.

Minnesota Public Radio's Cathy Wurzer talked with John Rash about the ratings. Rash is Senior Vice President and Director of Media Analysis at Campbell Mithun advertising, a media analyst for WCCO Radio, and he teaches in the Journalism Department at the University of Minnesota.

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Michael Phelps reacts after 8th gold medal
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps reacts after the men's 4 x 100m medley relay swimming final at the National Aquatics Center during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 17, 2008. Nearly 60 percent of Twin Cities television viewers were tuned to NBC's broadcast of the event.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images