Most-watched Olympics telecasts of 2016
Nielsen average audience, one figure per telecast; a final or revised figure replaces a preliminary one. Composites, peaks, reach and self-reported figures do not chart.
18
eligible telecasts
updated 2026-09-15
Most-watched Olympics telecasts of 2016
1
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
33,400,000
2
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
31,200,000
3
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
29,800,000
4
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
28,900,000
5
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
26,700,000
6
Rio 2016 Olympics — Opening Ceremony
26,500,000
7
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
26,400,000
8
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
25,500,000
9
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
24,300,000
10
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
24,100,000
11
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
24,000,000
12
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
21,700,000
13
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
20,700,000
14
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
20,600,000
15
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
20,100,000
16
Rio 2016 Olympics — Closing Ceremony
17,000,000
17
Rio 2016 Olympics — Prime time
15,400,000
18
Rio 2016 Olympics — Men's basketball gold medal game
11,700,000
18 eligible telecasts · computed 2026-09-15 11:38 UTC