The weak ratings for NBC’s coverage of the Rio Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday mirrored viewership across the 16-day event, which saw a 17 percent percent dip in primetime compared to the 2012 London Games, according to preliminary Nielsen estimates.

The nearly 20 percent drop in primetime ratings points to what NBC CEO Steve Burke described in June as a “nightmare” scenario, and marks the first time the Olympics has seen a sharp decline in viewership since 2000, Business Insider reports.

However, a 24 percent uptick in streaming through NBC’s app and website is a clear silver lining for the network, with 78 million unique viewers logging on to watch the games online.

NBC was also able to charge 50 percent more for internet ads than television ads, since they skew toward the coveted millennial audience. NBC said it sold more than $1.2 billion in ads this year, and expects bigger earnings than its $120 million in profits from the London games, Business Insider reports.

NBC’s decision to air an Olympic-themed episode of Superstore on Friday also paid off, with the comedy pulling in 9.7 million viewers, beating the 7.2 million viewers who tuned in to the pilot.

RELATED: NBC Hopes to Get Pop for ‘Superstore,’ ‘The Voice’ During Olympics Coverage

Yet the network’s total audience—including NBC, affiliate cable networks and online streaming over 15 nights averaged 27.5 million viewers, which still falls about 10 percent short of London’s average of 30.3 million viewers.

Having said that, there’s no mistaking a dismal primetime turnout for both the opening and closing ceremonies.

The closing ceremony on Sunday drew an 8.8 overnight rating—about 15 million views—down from the overnight rating of 17—roughly 31 million views—for London’s closing ceremony, which was the highest turnout for a summer finale in 36 years, Variety reports.

The Rio opening ceremony drew a 16.5 overnight rating—around 30 million views—compared to London’s 23 overnight rating, or 40.7 million views.

NBC has locked up the rights to the Olympics, for $12 billion, through 2032.

READ MORE: Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Business Insider, USA Today

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