NBC's Olympics coverage records staggering 34M viewership—thanks to Snoop Dogg
NBC's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics has seen a significant increase in viewership, largely due to rapper Snoop Dogg's involvement. The opening ceremony presentation alone attracted an average audience of 34M viewers over five days, marking a 79% increase from the 2021 Olympics opening ceremony, which had 19M viewers. Furthermore, the first day of competition in Paris drew 34.7M audience across NBC platforms—nearly doubling the viewer count from the opening competition of the Tokyo Olympics, which had 18M viewers.
Celebrity influence enhanced NBC's Olympics entertainment value
Rick Cordella, the president of NBC Sports, attributed the success of the Paris Olympics coverage to the entertainment value brought by celebrities, particularly Snoop Dogg. Cordella stated that this year's Olympics have "a lot more pop culture, celebrities, and a lot more Snoop than we've had before." He further noted that despite results being known due to time differences, viewers are returning for the prime-time show because of its high entertainment quotient.
Snoop Dogg's charisma central to NBC's Olympics strategy
Snoop Dogg has been a key figure in NBC's strategy for the Paris Olympics, attending various events and interacting with athletes and their families. Molly Solomon, the executive producer and president of NBC Olympics Production, highlighted his popularity by saying, "If you watch his content, everybody wants to meet Snoop, take a selfie with Snoop and just be around Snoop." His presence has undeniably added a unique flavor to this year's Olympic coverage.
Snoop Dogg engages with French culture during Olympics
In addition to his involvement with NBC, Snoop Dogg has been actively engaging with French culture during the Olympics. He toured the Louvre for NBC Olympics & Paralympics's TikTok account, providing his unique perspective on iconic works of art. The rapper also had the privilege of being an Olympic torchbearer through Saint-Denis, a moment he compared to Muhammad Ali's famous torch-bearing at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Snoop Dogg is being paid a massive amount for commentary!
Snoop Dogg is reportedly raking in a massive payday for his commentary role. According to claims made by a young entrepreneur, an NBC executive revealed he is earning a staggering £3,93,000 ($500K) daily, plus expenses. This figure aligns with reports from a German outlet suggesting his potential earnings could reach £11.78M ($15M) for the entire Games. This represents a significant commitment from NBC, which secured a £4.5B broadcasting deal with the International Olympic Committee extending to 2032 in 2014.
