NBC is mum on what viewers will see from Sochi Friday night during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.
But if history is any indication, the night’s pomp and pageantry — which starts at 7:30 p.m. from Fisht Olympic Stadium — will draw a lot of eyeballs and rank as one of the year’s most-watched telecasts.
The opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympics, which took place in London, not only featured the requisite fireworks and light show, but included a live performance by Paul McCartney.
That telecast averaged 41 million viewers, a new opening-night record, which eclipsed the 40 million who watched NBC’s opening-night coverage of the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. By comparison, the 2008 Summer Games, which took place in Beijing, attracted 35 million opening-night viewers, which was up from the 2004 opener from Athens (25 million viewers).
While NBC isn’t tipping its hand regarding featured performers for Friday night’s opening — and who will light the symbolic Olympic torch, always a highlight — it’s rumored that 17-year-old singer Danielle Bradbery, who won NBC’s singing competition show “The Voice” last year, will perform — since her song, “My Day,” is the theme for the Sochi games.
“I am honored to be able to share the song through this special campaign honoring our Olympic heroes, who I look forward to cheering on this winter on NBC,” Bradbery told the Web site tasteofcountry.com.
Local orchestral musicians Yuri Bashmet, Valery Gergiec and Denis Matsuev have also been linked to Friday’s opening ceremonies, according to bleacherreport.com.