VIEWER’S GUIDE

NBC estimates that 199 million viewers have watched at least a portion of the Atlanta Olympics, making them the most-watched Summer Games in U.S. television history.

The 1992 Barcelona Olympics rank second with 192 million American viewers.

NBC also reports that the Atlanta Games have been watched in 89% of the nation’s 95.9 million TV households.

Tuesday night’s prime-time coverage earned a 21.3 national rating with a 39% share of the audience, an increase of 38% from the same night at Barcelona (15.4/29). The number of viewers Tuesday night was estimated at 93 million. It was the third night in a row that there have been more than 90 million viewers.

The Los Angeles numbers for prime time were a 24.5 rating with a 43 share, 14th among the nation’s largest markets. The late-night block drew an 18.9 L.A. rating, ranking second behind a 19.2 for Portland, Ore.

Through 12 days, the average national rating is a 22.7 with a 43 share, marking a 25% increase over the same period in 1992.