Are the Games really bigger than the Big Game?
According to a Pew Research study released Monday, nearly 8 out of 10 Americans say they’re following the London Olympics on either traditional television or via the internet.
As a media event, that makes the Summer Olympics bigger than the Super Bowl, which typically draws attention from about 7 out of 10 Americans. (The latter data came from a Harris Poll conducted last year.)
Not surprisingly, traditional television is the dominant consumption platform for the London Games, with 73 percent of the 1,005 individuals surveyed by Pew saying they watch events on the tube (see chart).
Also read: BBC’s super-served Olympics shows how narrowcast can go wide
However, among younger demographics, usage of internet platforms to follow the Olympics is significant.
For example, among groups aged 18-29 and 30-49, 22 percent are tracking the Games online. And 31 percent of 18-29-year-olds are using social media to get their Olympics fix, far away the most social-media use of any demo surveyed.
Also notable: The level of Olympics consumption rises along with wealth and education.
