The ratings validated NBC’s decision to show last night’s Opening Ceremonies on tape delay in primetime.

From @nbcsportspr:

  23.0/40 Overnight for Opening Ceremony on NBC best for a non-US Olympics ever;  up 7% from Beijing (21.5), 28% from Athens (18.0).

That’s a huge number. And it wouldn’t have occurred if NBC aired the Opening Ceremonies live in the afternoon.

The fact is, more people can watch at night, especially for a telecast that stretched more than three hours.

I was working Friday afternoon, as were many, many other people. Tape delay was fine by me.