Redgrave - had viewers glued to their sets. (Allsport)
FANS STAY UP TO WITNESS REDGRAVE HEROICS
By Helen William, PA News
Steve Redgrave's heroic performance in winning a fifth successive Olympic gold
medal captivated television viewers who sat up to watch the historic feat in
Sydney.
Approximately 6.6 million viewers - 75% of the audience - witnessed Redgrave
and the men's coxless four rowing crew triumph at shortly after 12.30am as the
BBC revealed impressive figures for their round-the-clock Games coverage.
Each day up to 21 hours of Olympic sport was broadcast on BBC1 and BBC2 live
from Australia, regularly capturing 50% of the viewing audience, the corporation
said.
Viewers saw British athletes win 11 gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals,
their highest tally since the 1920 Antwerp games.
Approximately 4.6 million people tuned to BBC1 to watch the British squad
parade during the spectacular opening ceremony - around four times the average
morning television audience.
The estimated worldwide television audience for the opening parade is 3.7
billion.
Jason Queally's surprise gold in the 1km cycling time trial on the opening
day was witnessed by three million viewers in the UK, doubling Grandstand's
regular Saturday viewing, the BBC said.
Between two million and 2.5 million viewers tuned in to watch British
efforts during the weekday mornings.
A total of five million viewers watched America's Maurice Greene storm
across the line to win the men's 100 metres final - 57% of the audience.
Denise Lewis' success in the heptathlon was watched by 6.4 million viewers
- 62% of the audience.
The BBC's highlights programme The Day Down Under peaked at 8.3 million
viewers.
