Beijing Olympics: most-watched in Games' history

The Nielsen Company reported on Sunday that about two-thirds of the world's population, a record 440 billion people, watched the Olympics from August 8 to 17, making it the most watched Games in Olympic history.

The company compiled the date from audiences in 38 countries and regions.

The Athens Games of 2004 drew an audience of 3.9 billion viewers, while the 2000 Sydney Games were watched by 3.6 billion people.

The Games were also the most-watched programs in US television history, the National Broadcasting Company Universal (NBCU) said on Sunday.

Publicists for the company say that 211 million Americans viewed part of the Games on NBC and its affiliate networks.

NBCU paid one billion dollars for the rights to broadcast the Games and is set to make a profit on its investment.