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Opening Day: NBCOlympics.com 70M Pageviews, With No Opening Ceremony Vid; BBC’s 700K Online Streams

Update: Because people are asking this in the comments thread below: The DVD of the opening ceremony is now for sale…can be ordered here.

Original post: NBC Universal (NYSE: GE) is touting its TV and online numbers from day one, Friday, at the Beijing Olympics, but at least online the numbers ring hollow. On TV,  it was the best overnight rating ever for non-U.S. Olympic Opening Ceremony earning a 21.5/37 (8-11:19 p.m. ET/PT), the company says, surpassing Sydney Olympics in 2000. This after a 12-hour and 15-hour tape delay on East and West coast respectively.

On the online side, where the Opening Ceremony was nowhere to be found until this morning, it had 70 million page views Friday, 10 times more than the seven million page views on the opening day of the Athens Games, though it was probably more people trying to desperately find some video of the ceremony than anything else. Even this morning, the site has highlights of the ceremony, not the full broadcast. It probably would have made sense to put the full first part of the ceremony—before the parade of nations—online.

Anyway, some other online numbers:
—The 70 million page views are nearly 50 million more page views than the peak day in Athens (Day 4, 20.6 million).
—NBCOlympics.com’s 4.2 million unique users show an increase of 496 percent over the unique users for the opening day of the Athens Games in 2004 (705,000).
—Since August 1, 2008, NBCOlympics.com has accumulated more than 127 million page views, nearly half the total for the entire Athens Games.

Meanwhile, I am enjoying the Badminton coverage online.

Across the pond, for BBC, which doesn’t have to go through these contortions to protect its TV rights, about 700,000 watched the first day of the games live on its website, through the video stream.

Update: NBC says all of the opening is up now but in segments. Here are the three key videos we could find: Sights and Sounds (52 minutes); Parade of Athletes (1hour, 37 minutes); Cauldron Lighting (12:51).


Pic courtesy: Kathy Zhuang.

Aug 9, 2008 12:53 PM ET

Posted In: Entertainment, Sports, Digital Olympics, Companies, NBC Universal, Countries, Asia, China

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Comments (67)

Aug 9, 2008 5:23 PM

So is the Opening Ceremony never going to be online? I missed the whole thing the first time and didn’t DVR it. Will be annoyed if it’s gone forever. Guess there’s always the Closing.

Joseph Weisenthal

Aug 9, 2008 11:42 PM

NBC needs to do a much better job of making this available chronologically but most of the opening is up now in large chunks. I’ll add the links to the post.

Staci D. Kramer

Aug 15, 2008 10:29 AM

Since I was not able to watch the Opening Ceremony, there is a way that we can get a DVD and at what price?  I missed a once in our life time event.

Edith Perez

Aug 15, 2008 11:25 AM

I would like to know if we can buy a DVD of the opening ceremony. I watched most of it, but missed the ending. It was a beautiful ceremony and it would be wonderful to have it on a DD,

Arlene Clewell

Aug 15, 2008 11:37 AM

Where can the opening ceremony be purchased?

Patricia Richey

Aug 15, 2008 8:36 PM

Where can the opening ceremony be purchased

Maurice J. Zarmati

Aug 15, 2008 8:45 PM

i am looking to buy the opening ceremony cd please let me know where and how much

juanita duncan

Aug 15, 2008 9:09 PM

because of the time zone, i missed the olympics US basketball competitions.  it would be nice if the games could be purchase on DVD.  it would be nice if all of US competition was available on DVD.  can you make it possible?

eva evans

Aug 15, 2008 9:52 PM

I’m really upset that it won’t be possible to purchase a DVD of the opening Day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  I saw the whole thing and it was the most magnificent thing I have ever seen in my life.  I would love to have a DVD of it to pass down to my Grandchildren.  There will (in my opinion) never be anything to top this again in my lifetime.  With or without the fireworks, nothing can top the precision of the Chinese people and the work and dedication they put into everything.  My compliments to all of them.  My best wishes to all the Olympians and all their hard work.

Patricia Cvercsek

Aug 15, 2008 10:48 PM

Please give us the information on getting a CD of the whole opening ceremony, this should have been automatically offered. Let me know the price for it when and if it is going to be offered or have to put it together myself.
Thanks for your attention to this matter.

Carl T.

Carl Thiel

Aug 16, 2008 12:40 AM

How can I purchase the Opening Ceremony?

Tiffany

Aug 16, 2008 3:41 AM

where i can purchase the opening ceremony ?

jerry fong

Aug 16, 2008 5:49 AM

I saw a commercial to buy the 2 DVD set of the whole opening ceremony
of the olympics. When I look it up, I can’t find it!  When and how much and
where do I go to buy it?
            Thanks for your information comming.  Pam

Pam

Aug 16, 2008 7:38 AM

Please give us the information on getting a CD of the whole opening ceremony

Richard LiPuma

Aug 16, 2008 8:24 AM

The opening ceromony was a mix of greatness, skill and grandeur. A classic mix of cultural history, both old and new. I was very impressed.

Next question is, where is the CD for this event?

keith

Aug 16, 2008 11:02 AM

NBC sent us this link for DVDs: http://www.nbcdvd.com/index2.html
You can order the full ceremony ($30) or general highlights ($20); scheduled to ship mid-late Sept.

Staci D. Kramer

Aug 16, 2008 12:20 PM

I missed the whole opening ceremony of the olympic in Beijing 2008. How can I oreder DVD recording of this event?
Thanks

Sam

Aug 16, 2008 5:03 PM

I was able to watch the opening ceremony of the olympic in Beijing.
Is there a DVD available to watch over and over, if so, how much.
Thank You

JIM BARE

Aug 16, 2008 8:57 PM

I watched the opening ceremony and it was great. I saw the ad saying we could order it. If so, how much,  Thanks

Carol Osegueda

Aug 16, 2008 10:12 PM

I am very interested in owning a copy of the Opening ceremonies. Is it available on DVD? How much will it be?

Nancy McCullers

Aug 17, 2008 1:26 AM

Please let me know how I can purchase a DVD of the opening ceremonies,

Suszy Gregory

Aug 17, 2008 9:21 AM

I watched the ceremony and we thought it was GREAT!! Want to own a DVD, saw it available on NBCOLYMPIC.COM but cannot find the 4 hour video. WHATS THE DEAL????!!!!  I’ve watched almost every minute of the olympics and the USA has been unbelievable and deserve the gold but NBC with the video—- no score yet!!!!!!!

Pamela

Aug 17, 2008 12:32 PM

I see many others,that are looking for the 4 hr. Video, you continue to
announce on TV. I would like to know the right location, and price.
                                                        Thank You, JON

JON

Aug 17, 2008 12:47 PM

Please tell me how to purchase the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics 2008 on Dvd as advertised.

Jan Marie Rappold

Aug 17, 2008 1:12 PM

I thought it was the most awesome opening ceremony of any Olympics so far.  I don’t think anyone can surpass this.  I would love to buy the a dvd of the opening ceremony.  How much would it be?  I searched on the website nbcolympics.com but I couldn’t find where to purchase it.
Thank you, Mary

Mary Kennedy

Aug 17, 2008 6:56 PM

I have looked everywhere on your website and cannot find where it says “order” for the opening ceremony.. Please let me know where I can purchase the video..Thanks, Diane

Diane

Aug 17, 2008 7:59 PM

The opening ceremony of the olympics was the the most awesome of any opening of anything I have seen in my 55yrs of life. I don’t believe any will every match that again in the rest of my life anyway. If they make DVD’s of that, I’ll buy a few and give a gift of amazement to friends. Where are they. Thank You, Paul

Paul Bagwell

Aug 17, 2008 9:10 PM

everyone’s asking for the dvd for the opening ceremonies for 2008 olympics,your station is advertising the dvd,but when we go to the website there’s no info…..what’sgoing on ? can we get the dvd or not….please let me know,,,I really want it !!!!...cassandra

cassandra jones

Aug 17, 2008 9:33 PM

How do I purchase the 2 DVD set of the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. I cannot find it on your website.

Robert Scates

Aug 17, 2008 9:51 PM

I do hope I can get the DVD of the opening ceremonies as my granddaughter didn’t get to see it and I would so like for her to have it.

Barbara Perry

Aug 18, 2008 7:58 AM

I, too, would like to purchase the DVD of the opening ceremonies, but can’t find it anywhere.  It’s very frustrating!!  Why do they advertise things that aren’t available yet?

Patti

Aug 18, 2008 3:13 PM

What’s wrong with this network??  Look at the requests here. 

Just as I did, other people, for one reason or another, missed either the opening or some other event and are now trying to see a re-run.

These requests are falling on deaf ears.

Has the almighty dollar come to mean SO much that offering at least one advertised rerun of the opening (or other events), WITHOUT now ONLY offering them in this network’s ‘pay-per-view’  DVD set, is apparently unthinkable?

What a shameful decision about something that IS historic.

I hope a different network offers the next olympic coverage!  (It would be just dessert for this network to lose advertising dollars the next go-round because they think more of their DVD sales than they do both the public AND their advertising customers!)

Jackie

Aug 18, 2008 9:31 PM

How do I purchase the 2 DVD set of the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. I cannot find it on your website.

Chuck

Aug 19, 2008 12:02 AM

I and My family loved the opening ceremony I would like to buy a dvd of the opening if possibly can you email me back as to how , were , and how much it will cost . Thank-You, Penny

Penny Lovins

Aug 19, 2008 10:28 AM

I would like to purchase a dvd of the “OPENING”.  The page you have provided to purchase the dvd will not allow me to open it. Please let me know if there is another option.

Thx,
Ruth

Ruth Plunkett

Aug 19, 2008 12:30 PM

I cannot find any were on your website how to order the “OPENING DAY CEREMONIES” DVD, please advise. THANK YOU!

John Terrell

Aug 19, 2008 2:13 PM

I accessed your site to order the opening ceremony video but I received a message that the site was not available.  SO—how do I order the video?

Shirley Baumgart

Aug 19, 2008 2:35 PM

i would like to order the 4 hour video of the opening ceremony

Abbie L. Milner

Aug 20, 2008 10:49 PM

Still cannot locate how to order DVD Opening Ceremonies.  What’s the point of offering it if you don’t make it easy to find?  TV tells us to go to nbcolympics.com, but no specific directions to order.

Jeanne

Aug 21, 2008 1:53 AM

If everyone will READ, get that word, it means you have to do something with your eyes and your mind…....but, if you will READ the first paragraph of the article on the page that opens when you are at nbcolympics.com, it says, in the last setence of the first paragraph, “ordered here.”  DOH!!!  Look for the blue words and click on them, you’ll get 3, (count’em!) three choices to order something about the Olympics.  Not that hard people!  Just takes a little bit of standing back and considering all the options in view on the website.  But, READING is the key.  Everyone wants the easy, obvious thing, but they can’t handle actually seeing the fine print.

Tracy Brenner

Aug 21, 2008 3:23 PM

I would like to get the DVD of the opening ceremony of the Olympics.  Where can I go on line and buy it and how much does it cost.

Thank You
Mary

Mary Cubeta

Aug 21, 2008 8:15 PM

How do I buy the Open Ceremonies.  This is the web sight for purchasing the dvd where do you sell it? Help Lynn

Lynne Milnes

Aug 21, 2008 10:30 PM

I missed the opening ceremonies—cbs said come to this site to purchase a dvd—HOW and HOW MUCH?  PLEASE HELP—mARIE

marie

Aug 22, 2008 9:53 AM

I keep seeing your ad on TV for the opening ceremony video. How can I buy it and how much is it? Please let me know. Thanks. Lourdes

Lourdes Garcia-Vidal

Aug 22, 2008 10:42 AM

I wanted to purchase a DVD of the opening ceremony as advertised on your station.  But, I can see many other people have also requested this DVD without success.  Please fix or explain what is happening with your station.

Demaris Farah

Aug 22, 2008 12:48 PM

your coverage has been excellent thank you so much for the beautiful pictures and highlights YOU ARE SUPER   also I am trying to buy a copy of the opening ceremonies how do I do that?  Thank yoy Sandy Alexander

sandy Alexander

Aug 22, 2008 1:21 PM

On the TV it is written to go to your webite to order and then there is everything there highlighted except how to order the Opening Ceremonies dvd.  Also, for us on the west coast, your delayed tape makes it too late to watch many of the contests which is a dissevervice to us living here!  Bill Rush

Bill Rush

Aug 22, 2008 2:14 PM

Tell me how to purchase the DVD of the opening ceremonies.  I don’t see it listed under videos.

Pat Harris

Patricia H Harris

Aug 22, 2008 4:42 PM

The best of the best, NBC was beter than ever,no time outs either, one to the other events, like a flip of a light switch, changing, but next was even beter than before. REALLY GREAT JOB

JON

Aug 22, 2008 5:12 PM

I was told that I could buy a DVD of the opening ceremonies but cannot find any where on your information page a way to buy the DVD’s.  Please let me know when you will have this ready for sale.  Thank you.  Gloria Haas

Gloria Haas

Aug 23, 2008 1:40 PM

I am also interested in purchasing a DVD of the Opening Ceremonies when it becomes available.
Thank you,
Mary Ann Abruzzo

Mary Ann Abruzzo

Aug 23, 2008 2:26 PM

would like t0 purchase a 4 hour vedio of the opening ceremonies.  Please tell me how.  Thank you

jackieC

Aug 23, 2008 3:53 PM

I too would like info on purchase of opening ceremonies.Thanks

janet dyer

Aug 24, 2008 12:31 PM

Hey-

Where, how, and the cost of the opening ceremony?  NBC has the commercial but where does one find it?  Also, the Mike P. swimming video?  Any other videos available?

Thank you very much for your cooperation and assistance

robert j. vavrek

Aug 24, 2008 12:36 PM

Please tell me where, and at what cost I can get the DVD of the opening ceremony.  Thanks
Claire Nichols

Claire Nichols

Aug 24, 2008 4:04 PM

I want to know, like everyone else. Where do I get the DVD of the opening.
Iris

Iris Dichtel

Aug 24, 2008 6:09 PM

Beautiful Opening Ceremony wuld love to have the DVD.

Phyllis Risk

Aug 24, 2008 8:49 PM

WHERE DO I PURCHASE OPENING CEREMONY DVD?

gina scherben

Aug 24, 2008 9:41 PM

WHERE DO I PURCHASE OPENING CEREMONY DVD?

                                        THANKS CHRIS

chris

Aug 24, 2008 10:27 PM

How do I order DVD of opening ceramony and what does it cost?

Lee

Aug 25, 2008 1:58 AM

I would like to purchase DVD for “O” opening ceremony, HOW?

"JOJIE BAI"

Aug 25, 2008 3:29 AM

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE DVD FOR OPENING ...I MISSED WOULD LOVE TO BUY…

KIMBERLY STEWART

Aug 25, 2008 12:24 PM

I too had trouble finding the order link

cec

Aug 25, 2008 2:45 PM

Interested in buying the DVD for the DVD of the Opening Ceremonies

Porfhry

Aug 26, 2008 11:56 PM

NBC you advertised world wide, to come to nbcolympic.com to buy the opening, why are you making it so hard to buy the copy?  So far i have spent one hour trying, no such luck .  NBC, why.

Norma

Aug 28, 2008 8:08 PM

The opening ceremony was just breathtaking.  It was so amazing.  Then we got to see the closing cermony, which was just as amazing.  I want to know where can I purchase the videos?  Now that is something to put in your library!

Hadiyah Ahmad

Sep 7, 2008 8:27 PM

would like to buy dvd 2008 olympics opening ceremony

randy wrye

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