Winter Olympics Close With Nearly Double the Viewers From 2022

Hollywood Reporter

by Rick Porter

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The 2026 Winter Olympics concluded with a remarkable surge in viewership, nearly doubling the audience of the 2022 games. NBCUniversal’s coverage averaged over 23 million viewers across its platforms, marking a significant improvement and making it the most-watched winter games since 2014. The event saw record-breaking streaming numbers as well, with Peacock recording 16.7 billion minutes of viewing time—more than double any previous Winter Olympics streaming total. This success was attributed to strong collaboration across Comcast NBCUniversal networks, including Peacock, NBC Entertainment, and Telemundo, as well as partnerships with major sports organizations like the IOC and NBA. The games were highlighted by record-breaking moments, such as the women’s hockey final between the U.S. and Canada, which drew 5.3 million viewers—a new high for women’s hockey in the U.S. Additionally, Peacock experienced its best month ever in February, with an average of 3.3 million daily viewers during key broadcast windows. This surge was further fueled by the “halo effect” of popular events like the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star weekend, which boosted viewership for entertainment shows on Peacock, such as *The Burbs* and *The Traitors*. The combination of live TV broadcasts and streaming platforms played a crucial role in driving these numbers, with nearly 14% of the total audience coming from digital platforms. This achievement underscores the growing importance of streaming services in modern sports broadcasting. Peacock’s success during the Olympics not only highlights its potential as a key player in the entertainment industry but also demonstrates how live events can drive engagement across traditional and digital platforms. For fans

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Originally published on Hollywood Reporter on 2/24/2026