Poll shows popularity of Olympic Games

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Billions of people around the world tuned in to watch the Olympic Games from Beijing last night as Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all time.

If you tuned in for prime-time coverage of the Olympics, you're not alone. Plenty of your co-workers and friends are staying up late, too. But just how many of you are watching? And why? We have the results from an exclusive poll.

First of all, we asked you whether you were watching. We found that 33 percent were actually watching when the phone rang. Another 50 percent said they have been watching. So, only 17 percent of Utahns are not tuning in.

Forty-two percent told us they are watching more TV because of the Olympics.

One viewer, Chris Snow, said, "I'm not a super fan of regular swimming, but watching Michael Phelps just burn through the water like a submarine leaving a wake, it's just incredible."

Jackie Buckman said, "I liked the swimming last night and the relay. That was fun to watch."

The Olympic fountain at The Gateway is a cool place on a hot day, and everyone we talked to said they loved the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Delaney Young said, "I like to watch the gymnastics and the diving and the swimming. The diving is just really cool to watch."

Kathy Monninger told us, "We actually moved to Utah from Vermont for the Winter Olympics, loved it so much that we stayed. We watch it every night."

More than 80 percent of Utahns say they are watching the action. Forty percent say they watch one to two hours a day. Another 40 percent watch more than three hours.

Seven percent say they are watching the Games online, and many more are following results online.

Melissa Sipherd said, "We probably like them a little more since the Olympics were in Salt Lake. We're a little more into it."

As for the kind of coverage, the people we talked to said they think NBC is doing a better job than ever.

Chris Snow said, "I think I'm watching more. I think it has to do with us having hosted one and being involved in that."

What are the top reasons for watching? People love the competition, and many have made it a family tradition over the years.

Bobby Potts said, "I like the swimming because the athletes do really good and it's a competition for the best person who wins."

So enjoy the Games and relax; you're not the only person who will be bleary-eyed at work in the morning. According to our Utah Nielson ratings, during the last five nights, nearly 50 percent of all televisions turned on during prime time were tuned in to the Olympics. That's about the same as having David Archuletta on American Idol final five nights in a row. It's not quite as popular as the Olympics here in Salt Lake in 2002, but slightly more popular than the Athens Games.

Utah viewership ranks fifth in the nation among television markets tuning in.

E-mail: jboal@ksl.com