Ratings Review: How Did KARE 11 Perform During The Olympics?

TWIN CITIES, MN — NBC's top producers at Rockefeller Center in New York City can thank Minnesotans for delivering ratings success during the network's coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Local NBC stations in Denver (KUSA) and the Twin Cities metro (KARE 11) had the number one and two spots, respectively, in local primetime adults 25-54 ratings among all NBC affiliates during the games.

Overall, TEGNA-owned stations took 4 of the top 7 spots in adults 25-54 ratings, including No. 4 St. Louis (KSDK) and No. 7 Charlotte (WCNC), according to Nielsen Local TV Ratings.

Related: New York Times Renames Team USA, 'Team Minnesota'

"Live TV viewing remains the largest form of media consumption and TEGNA led the way during the weeks of the Winter Olympics," Lynn Beall, chief operating officer of media operations at TEGNA, said in a statement.

"As the leading NBC affiliate group, our strong stations gave gold medal performances. We told local stories of impact, produced innovative, compelling content across platforms and created engaging, one-of-a kind marketing and sales solutions to help local advertisers grow their business."

TEGNA's NBC stations bookended strong ratings performance in the opening and closing ceremony broadcasts in Pyeongchang, winning six of the top 10 spots in adults 25-54 ratings Feb. 25.

In the opening ceremonies on Feb. 9, TEGNA had 5 of the top 10 in adults 25-54.

Complete Prime Average: Age 25-54 Ratings

1. Denver (KUSA)
2. Minneapolis (KARE)
4. St. Louis (KSDK)
7. Charlotte (WCNC)

Feb. 25 Closing Ceremonies Prime: Age 25-54 Ratings

1. Denver (KUSA)
4. Minneapolis (KARE)
6. Seattle (KING)
7. St. Louis (KSDK)
9. Portland (KGW)
10. Cleveland (WKYC)

Feb. 9 Opening Ceremonies Prime: Age 25-54 Ratings

1. Denver (KUSA)
2. St. Louis (KSDK)
5. Cleveland (WKYC)
9. Minneapolis (KARE)
10. Charlotte (WCNC)

While the Olympics remained popular in Minnesota, NBC's ratings for the games was down overall. Primetime coverage of the 2018 Olympics averaged 19.8 million viewers a night, reports Variety. That's down about 7 percent from the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

NBC paid $4.38 billion in 2011 for the rights to broadcast the Olympics through 2020, according to CNN. The last three Olympic Games prior to 2018 have been profitable for the network, including record money made from the 2016 Rio Games. NBC expects to profit again this year.

The 2018 Winter Olympics capped off a busy February for KARE 11. Prior to the games, the local NBC affiliate lead the nation in household ratings during the Super Bowl.

Photo by David McNew/Getty Images