Twin Cities tie for 1st for most viewers in U.S.

Last update: August 13, 2008 - 9:05 PM

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Twin Cities viewers appear to have a stronger case of Olympic fever than just about anybody else. For Tuesday's prime-time broadcast, KARE, Channel 11, the local NBC affiliate, recorded a 30 rating -- meaning 30 percent of all households with TVs were tuned in -- tying Denver for the highest percentage in the country. KARE also registered a 47 share, which means nearly half of the people actually watching TV at that hour were viewing the Games.

On Monday, KARE was alone in the gold-medal category, scoring a 27.5 rating, slightly ahead of fans in the Salt Lake City market.

Compared with the 2004 Olympics, total viewership in the Twin Cities is about 20 percent higher.

"Our market, and certainly KARE viewers, appreciate the kind of stories that emerge and build during every Olympics," said John Remes, the station's general manager. "It doesn't matter if you're a young kid, a mother or a father."

Remes credited KARE reporter Eric Perkins and photographer John Drilling for coverage from Beijing that has helped localize a global story. He said the slaying of local businessman Todd Bachman in Beijing last weekend may have contributed to Minnesotans' extraordinary interest in the Games.

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