Speaking during his address to delegates in Monaco, Rogge confirmed total broadcast hours were up dramatically over Sydney (35,000 hours compared to 29,600 for Sydney), live coverage boosted (more than half of the global broadcasters showed 4,000 hours of live competition), prime-time coverage increased (by 55 percent compared to Sydney) and the ability to stream footage over the internet and on 3G phones hailed a success.
Crucially, given the size of the deal it has with NBC, viewing figures in the US were up 14 percent over Sydney.
Said Rogge: "Athens has set a new benchmark with the highest audience, images of spectacular quality, expanded coverage of sport, new technologies and, I am delighted to say, a high level of satisfaction amongst our rights-holding broadcast partners.
"The IOC has two key principles; first, to reach the widest possible audience, hence the emphasis we put on free-to-air broadcast; and second, to ensure an open, fair and transparent negotiation process. We hope these principles will ensure our continued success for future Olympic Games."
European viewing figures were up 50 percent compared to Sydney 2000, with each European watching on average 14 hours of the Athens Games.
In the US, 203m viewers watched at least some of the Athens Games, the most for any Olympic Games held outside the US. NBC’s Olympic coverage ranked as the top programme every night of the week during the Games.
Despite unfavourable time zones, Asia was the continent that registered the most significant increases in coverage and viewer hours. According to the figures, provided to the IOC by Sports Marketing Surveys, China – host to the 2008 Games in Beijing – attracted an average audience of 85m with each individual viewer watching, on average, eight hours of coverage.
The full 2004 global television report will be available in November.
