Paris Summer Olympics ratings rise, Snoop Dogg makes a splash

Millions of viewers in the U.S. Tuning to the Summer Olympics in Paris — many of whom included Snoop Dogg as part of the experience.

According to NBC Sports, total viewership for the five-day period, starting with the opening ceremony, averaged 34 million viewers, including daytime and primetime ratings, a 79% increase over the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. release.

Executives ComcastIts NBCUniversal unit — the television and streaming broadcaster of the Olympics in the United States — has touted not only the success of its production but also the stars and personalities involved in its coverage, such as Snoop Dogg.

The hip-hop artist turned sports commentator and entertainer has spoken to athletes and their families on the sidelines of the Paris Olympics, tried his hand at sports with Olympic stars and tried his hand at analysis.

Molly Solomon, executive producer of the Olympics for NBC, called Snoop Dogg an “ambassador of happiness” during a press conference this week.

“We were pleasantly surprised by his popularity, but you should never underestimate Snoop Dogg,” Solomon said, praising his “perfect blend of confidence and positivity, his charisma and vibe are so positive.”

Snoop Dogg, join in The highlights of the Olympic Torch Relay have caused quite a stir on social media – from videos of him cheering with the families of Olympians to Take countless selfies With athletes and courtside spectators, including tennis legends Billie Jean King.

He has created some viral moments, including cheering with the wife and son of American swimmer Caeleb Dressel when the U.S. team won its first gold medal, and Dancing in the crowd The U.S. women’s gymnastics team responded on the mat.

His swimming class Olympic legend Michael Phelps’ obituary is also making the rounds on the Internet.

“The first time I saw him on the Olympic broadcast was at the track and field trials in June,” said Chrissy Birdsall, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who added that she has been watching more Olympic broadcasts because of the perfect time difference with Paris. “He’s very entertaining. He brings a different perspective to the track and field world.”

For the past few years, NBCUniversal has been banking on the success of the Paris Olympics and Snoop Dogg.

The rapper, known for hits like “Gin and Juice,” made his Olympic debut at the 2021 Games when he hosted a Peacock show with comedian Kevin Hart. Although ratings for the Tokyo Olympics were low that year and there were few live events on Peacock, their show drew viewers and clips went viral.

“Snoop set the world on fire at the Tokyo Olympics,” Solomon told CNBC. She said that the following year, NBC executives met with Snoop Dogg to discuss his future role in the Olympic broadcasts.

“He really wanted to go to Olympic cities and tell the stories of the athletes,” Solomon said.

Solomon and “Prime Time in Paris” host Mike Tirico gushed about Snoop Dogg’s work leading up to the Olympics at a press conference in July, noting his early arrival before the opening ceremony and his relationships with athletes.

For his part, Snoop Dogg’s preparations sound a little simpler.

“My preparation for prime time is just being myself,” he said in a news conference, adding that he’s “getting into practice with different teams… I’m the type of guy who likes to be a part of it.”

Snoop Dogg also attended the Olympic trials earlier this summer and has been making appearances everywhere since before the Olympics. When Tirico, singer Kelly Clarkson and former NFL star Peyton Manning hosted the opening ceremony, Snoop Dogg interviewed the American athletes wearing the same Ralph Lauren blazer as them.

“Snoop Dogg is one of those people who can totally go above and beyond and be so versatile,” said Kendall Wright, a student at Northwestern University.

He has been With deck He was wearing Team USA gear, including an NBC jacket with his name on it and T-shirts with the faces of star athletes like Coco Gauff and Kelly Cheng.

“It’s a sporting event, but the audience is not a traditional audience,” John Fortunato, a professor of communication and media management at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, said of the Olympics. “You see him at various events, and he has a very distinct personality that the audience can relate to as a fan. That’s really what makes him so appealing.”

Snoop Dogg will remain with NBC. Fans will see more of him this fall on NBC and Peacock when he joins the dugout “sound.”

“I can see why Snoop Dogg and Alex Cooper were included in the Olympics, especially for millennial and Gen X audiences,” said Jenna Mindes, a human resources professional in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

She is a big fan of gymnastics and attended the Olympic trials in Minneapolis this summer, but she is not a fan of celebrities joining the Olympics.

“I think for gymnastics and other less mainstream sports, the fandom is like a gatekeeper and they take the sport very seriously … and the celebrity presence seems to dilute the glamour of the sport,” she said.

“There’s more pop culture, more celebrities and more Snoop Dogg at this year’s Olympics than ever before,” said NBC Sports President Rick Cordela, who said it helped promote the Paris Games.

Meanwhile, Peacock has also seen success with its “Gold Zone,” a multi-sports simulcast hosted by “NFL Red Zone”’s Scott Hansen in a similar format, and a follow-up show hosted by “Call Her Daddy” host Alex Cooper.

“We definitely approached it differently,” Kodela said of Peacock’s Olympics strategy, which played a big role in boosting ratings.

The successful hosting of the Paris Olympics is another major event after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the lowest-rated Summer Olympics, and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

The Tokyo Olympics face many problems. The Games were postponed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic; there were no families or fans at the events; there were few events to watch on the streaming service Peacock; and there was a huge time difference for American viewers.

According to NBC Sports, the Paris Olympics have been trending upward since July 26. The opening ceremony on the Seine attracted 28.6 million viewers, compared to 17.9 million for the Tokyo Olympics and 26.5 million for the 2016 Rio Olympics, making it the most watched opening ceremony since the 2012 London Olympics.

exist Recent Interviews In an interview with NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt, Snoop Dogg said he never dreamed he would play the role, especially after watching the Olympics as a child.

“I was the fattest kid in the crowd,” he told Holt, who was cheering on the U.S. athletes at the game.

Disclosure: CNBC parent company NBCUniversal owns NBC Sports and NBC Olympics. NBC Olympics is the U.S. rights holder for all Summer and Winter Olympic Games through 2032.