TV ratings: Olympics capture more ratings gold Wednesday

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012

NBC's Summer Olympics coverage fell a little bit in the ratings Wednesday compared to Tuesday night, but it still held pretty strong with beach volleyball and track and field finals carrying the prime-time load.

The Olympics averaged 28.75 million viewers and a 16.7 rating/27 share in primetime, down just under a million viewers from Tuesday's numbers. CBS was the best of the rest with 4.4 million viewers and a 3.0/5. ABC (2.8 million, 1.9/3) came in third, and FOX (1.9 million, 1.2/2) took fourth. The CW snagged just under 900,000 viewers and a 0.6/1.

NBC posted a 9.2 rating among adults 18-49, just below Tuesday's 9.3. CBS (1.2) was the only other network to climb above a 1 rating in the demographic. ABC drew a 0.9, FOX a 0.7 and The CW a 0.4.

Wednesday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

NBC: Summer Olympics (23.45 million viewers, 14.0/24 households)
CBS: "Big Brother" (5.3 million, 3.4/6)
ABC: "The Middle" rerun (3.1 million, 2.2/4)/"Suburgatory" rerun (2.5 million, 1.7/3)
FOX: "So You Think You Can Dance" rerun (2 million, 1.2/2)
The CW: "Supernatural" rerun (1 million, 0.7/1)

18-49 leader: Summer Olympics (6.8)

9 p.m.

NBC: Summer Olympics (31.3 million, 17.9/28)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" rerun (3.9 million, 2.7/4)
ABC: "Modern Family" reruns - two episodes (2.8 million, 1.9/3)
FOX: "So You Think You Can Dance" rerun (1.8 million, 1.2/2)
The CW: "Supernatural" rerun (753,000, 0.6/1)

18-49 leader: Summer Olympics (10.2)

10 p.m.

NBC: Summer Olympics (31.5 million, 18.1/29)
CBS: "CSI" rerun (3.9 million, 2.8/5)
ABC: "Final Witness" (2.8 million, 1.8/3)

18-49 leader: Summer Olympics (10.8)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

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