Olympics propel NBC to a super week

NBC’s coverage of the first three nights of the Winter Olympics averaged 28.4 million viewers, 24% more than the corresponding period for the 2006 Games, giving the network its most-watched week since it aired the Super Bowl in 2009.

With its Olympics coverage grabbing three of the top four spots, NBC recorded its second weekly victory of the television season, averaging 16.08 million viewers for its prime-time programming between Feb. 8 and Sunday, according to figures released Wednesday by the Nielsen Co.

Friday’s opening ceremony was the week’s most-watched program, averaging 32.64 million viewers -- 47% above the 22.2 million average for the opening ceremony of the 2006 games.

Ellen DeGeneres’ debut as an “American Idol” judge was second for the week with 27.89 million viewers, “Idol’s” largest audience since its season premiere.

CBS had the week’s seven most-watched scripted programs, and nine of the top 10, to finish second for the week, averaging 10.64 million viewers.

Fox was third for the week, averaging 10.11 million viewers, followed by ABC, which averaged 6.62 million viewers, and the CW, which averaged 1.79 million.