The U.S. viewing numbers are in for the opening ceremony in Paris: 28.6 million.
Naturally, they're praising it to the rooftops. I, however, find the number telling:
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Note that Rio was considered a "flop" and this number isn't much better
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Note that they're screaminig it was "60% better than Tokyo," despite going out of their way at the time to excuse Tokyo for being Covid-affected, postponed, and in an unfriendly viewing timeslot for U.S. viewers
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Note that the RNC, a freaking single-party political convention got 25 million viewers
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Note that Nielsen's original "estimate" before the numbers came out was 65 million. I'm curious, was it that high because the first of the 4 hours was that high, then it tanked? Who knows.