The real risk for American broadcasters is not that dissent will be visible. It is that audiences will start assuming anything they do not show is being hidden
Most Americans don’t bother to watch in the first place, especially not with the superbowl happening this weekend. Most people I’ve talked to didn’t even know the Olympics were happening. And the few that I have talked to haven’t wanted to watch it on NBC because it’s pointless to watch there because you can’t even see any sports and the commentators are terrible.
I know that’s all anecdotal, but I’ve seen stats in the past about how low viewership is for the Olympics in America because of how bad the coverage is. So yeah, anyone that actually cares about watching is doing it through a VPN.
In 2016 there were hundreds of articles about how to watch the Olympics on VPNs because of how bad the coverage was.
At least 32% of Americans use VPNs, and 3/4 Americans know what VPNs are. https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/. Funny enough this survey admits that the stats will be underreported because the survey platform doesn’t allow VPN usage. That 3/10 number actually comes up a lot in the rest of the data around Olympic viewership.
What’s more likely: the host country watched 50% less Olympics than two English speaking countries, and watched 3x as much Olympics as the US? Or is it more likely that Americans are using other English nations broadcasts to watch the Olympics rather than watching their home country broadcast?
The viewership of the Olympics in the US should be pretty much in line with the Superbowl, 120+ million viewers, since 1 the superbowl is a single sport, and 2. more people care globally about the Olympics than any other sport. So the US is “missing” almost 100 million US viewers of the Olympics.
More than 40% of the US adult population had planned on watching those Olympics (it’s actually more than 60% but I made sure to err towards the group that said “likely to watch” rather than the 30% that said they “will not watch”), 80% of the US is adults, that’s 108 million people.
Literally every statistic points to the fact that Americans use VPNs to watch the Olympics abroad more than they watch the home broadcast. American VPN usage lines up with these numbers, and nearby English countries’ numbers are much higher than they should be.
What’s more likely: the host country watched 50% less Olympics than two English speaking countries, and watched 3x as much Olympics as the US? Or is it more likely that Americans are using other English nations broadcasts to watch the Olympics rather than watching their home country broadcast?
The viewership of the Olympics in the US should be pretty much in line with the Superbowl, 120+ million viewers, since 1 the superbowl is a single sport, and 2. more people care globally about the Olympics than any other sport. So the US is “missing” almost 100 million US viewers of the Olympics.
More than 40% of the US adult population had planned on watching those Olympics (it’s actually more than 60% but I made sure to err towards the group that said “likely to watch” rather than the 30% that said they “will not watch”), 80% of the US is adults, that’s 108 million people.
Which is why you shouldn’t have started this thread with your meaningless anecdote. Doesn’t matter what the statistics are, you haven’t proven what you said “no one watches the Olympics but even if they do, they use VPN” which is an absurd/impossible claim to begin with.
You see, the thing is you did not and cannot prove “no one” is doing something that common sense and anecdotes tells me isn’t true. Hell, just people flipping channels on traditional cable or using an antenna and accidentally finding the Olympics on NBC that way would undoubtedly number in the thousands.
That’s true winter isn’t as popular but between app subscribers and older gen with actual tv packages most will just watch it normally
But you’re right anyone legitimately into it will seek out a vpn but that’s still a small portion of the actual watchers. Most will tolerate the sloppy coverage or if it’s really that bad just turn it off and move on with their lives
I’ve linked all the stats in other comments, but yes, most Americans are likely watching through VPN, not watching through NBC. The numbers just do not line up in any way if the majority are watching on NBC.
VPN usage to get around geo broadcasting is not popular in America so the most likely explanation almost certainly aligns with an explanation not involving vpn use (except hardcore fans would definitely use it)
So I think you’re actually wrong trying to deduce stuff from those stats and the reality is simply fewer Americans care about Winter Olympics (lotta stuff going on rn not just w Super Bowl too) + more people just watch clips off YouTube and TikTok and instagram/fb
Most Americans don’t bother to watch in the first place, especially not with the superbowl happening this weekend. Most people I’ve talked to didn’t even know the Olympics were happening. And the few that I have talked to haven’t wanted to watch it on NBC because it’s pointless to watch there because you can’t even see any sports and the commentators are terrible.
I know that’s all anecdotal, but I’ve seen stats in the past about how low viewership is for the Olympics in America because of how bad the coverage is. So yeah, anyone that actually cares about watching is doing it through a VPN.
This is peak bubbleposting. Imagine thinking that more than a tiny percentage of people have any idea what a VPN does
In 2016 there were hundreds of articles about how to watch the Olympics on VPNs because of how bad the coverage was.
At least 32% of Americans use VPNs, and 3/4 Americans know what VPNs are. https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/. Funny enough this survey admits that the stats will be underreported because the survey platform doesn’t allow VPN usage. That 3/10 number actually comes up a lot in the rest of the data around Olympic viewership.
7 in 10 “Canadians” watched the 2024 Olympics. https://mediaincanada.com/2024/08/13/record-breaking-digital-audiences-for-cbc-olympic-coverage/
6 in 10 “Brits” watched the Olympics https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c86l33xy7x0o
35% of the French population watched. That was the HOST country! https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/08/06/whether-viewership-or-terabits-the-paris-olympic-games-are-breaking-records_6710415_19.html
Less than 1 in 11 Americans watched the Olympics https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2024/08/13/the-paris-olympics-averaged-306-million-viewers-across-nbcu-platforms/
Even though Americans watch vastly more television. https://www.admtv.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024_egta_gtvg_tv_consumption-Final.pdf and sports.
124 million Americans watched the Super Bowl https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2024/super-bowl-lviii-draws-123-7-million-average-viewers-largest-tv-audience-on-record/
What’s more likely: the host country watched 50% less Olympics than two English speaking countries, and watched 3x as much Olympics as the US? Or is it more likely that Americans are using other English nations broadcasts to watch the Olympics rather than watching their home country broadcast?
The viewership of the Olympics in the US should be pretty much in line with the Superbowl, 120+ million viewers, since 1 the superbowl is a single sport, and 2. more people care globally about the Olympics than any other sport. So the US is “missing” almost 100 million US viewers of the Olympics.
More than 40% of the US adult population had planned on watching those Olympics (it’s actually more than 60% but I made sure to err towards the group that said “likely to watch” rather than the 30% that said they “will not watch”), 80% of the US is adults, that’s 108 million people.
https://news.gallup.com/file/poll/647774/240725Olympics.pdf
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/AGE295224#AGE295224
Literally every statistic points to the fact that Americans use VPNs to watch the Olympics abroad more than they watch the home broadcast. American VPN usage lines up with these numbers, and nearby English countries’ numbers are much higher than they should be.
Obviously, only that tiny percentage of the population “care”. Not sure what they care about, but they care.
I know multiple people who watched it on nbc yesterday and in the past I always did. So no what you’re saying isn’t true.
Anecdotes aren’t evidence.
7 in 10 “Canadians” watched the 2024 Olympics. https://mediaincanada.com/2024/08/13/record-breaking-digital-audiences-for-cbc-olympic-coverage/
6 in 10 “Brits” watched the Olympics https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c86l33xy7x0o
35% of the French population watched. That was the HOST country! https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/08/06/whether-viewership-or-terabits-the-paris-olympic-games-are-breaking-records_6710415_19.html
Less than 1 in 11 Americans watched the Olympics https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2024/08/13/the-paris-olympics-averaged-306-million-viewers-across-nbcu-platforms/
Even though Americans watch vastly more television. https://www.admtv.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024_egta_gtvg_tv_consumption-Final.pdf and sports.
124 million Americans watched the Super Bowl https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2024/super-bowl-lviii-draws-123-7-million-average-viewers-largest-tv-audience-on-record/
What’s more likely: the host country watched 50% less Olympics than two English speaking countries, and watched 3x as much Olympics as the US? Or is it more likely that Americans are using other English nations broadcasts to watch the Olympics rather than watching their home country broadcast?
The viewership of the Olympics in the US should be pretty much in line with the Superbowl, 120+ million viewers, since 1 the superbowl is a single sport, and 2. more people care globally about the Olympics than any other sport. So the US is “missing” almost 100 million US viewers of the Olympics.
More than 40% of the US adult population had planned on watching those Olympics (it’s actually more than 60% but I made sure to err towards the group that said “likely to watch” rather than the 30% that said they “will not watch”), 80% of the US is adults, that’s 108 million people.
https://news.gallup.com/file/poll/647774/240725Olympics.pdf
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/AGE295224#AGE295224
Literally every statistic points to the fact that Americans use VPNs to watch the Olympics abroad more than they watch the home broadcast.
Which is why you shouldn’t have started this thread with your meaningless anecdote. Doesn’t matter what the statistics are, you haven’t proven what you said “no one watches the Olympics but even if they do, they use VPN” which is an absurd/impossible claim to begin with.
Which I literally covered in my first comment: “I know these are anecdotes, but I’ve seen stats…”.
I just wasn’t willing to put in the work proving anyone wrong until you so kindly decided to say something demonstrably false, using only an anecdote.
You see, the thing is you did not and cannot prove “no one” is doing something that common sense and anecdotes tells me isn’t true. Hell, just people flipping channels on traditional cable or using an antenna and accidentally finding the Olympics on NBC that way would undoubtedly number in the thousands.
Please do quote me where I said “no one”. You are the one that put those words in my mouth.
That’s true winter isn’t as popular but between app subscribers and older gen with actual tv packages most will just watch it normally
But you’re right anyone legitimately into it will seek out a vpn but that’s still a small portion of the actual watchers. Most will tolerate the sloppy coverage or if it’s really that bad just turn it off and move on with their lives
I’ve linked all the stats in other comments, but yes, most Americans are likely watching through VPN, not watching through NBC. The numbers just do not line up in any way if the majority are watching on NBC.
VPN usage to get around geo broadcasting is not popular in America so the most likely explanation almost certainly aligns with an explanation not involving vpn use (except hardcore fans would definitely use it)
So I think you’re actually wrong trying to deduce stuff from those stats and the reality is simply fewer Americans care about Winter Olympics (lotta stuff going on rn not just w Super Bowl too) + more people just watch clips off YouTube and TikTok and instagram/fb
But none of that requires a vpn