Back at the 1996 Atlanta Games, Michael Johnson won two gold medals. He was at the peak of his powers. The Summer Olympics’ average audience for NBC broadcasts rose to 33.1 million. Fans could not wait to get a piece of Johnson, sprinting his way to a historic 200 and 400-meters victory. Similarly, Usain Bolt entertained audiences with his charming personality and supernatural sprinting abilities. However, the ratings plummeted to an all-time low during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Track and field hold a special place in fans’ minds during the Olympics. The need for a dedicated show for the sport is long overdue. Formula One is the perfect example of entering a new market by releasing an engaging series on Netflix called Drive to Survive. So, Johnson wants more exposure for his beloved sport. 

Michael Johnson calls for exposure

Gymnastics, swimming, and track and field are the events that receive the highest number of audiences during the Olympics. However, the sport has been on a decline in terms of viewership. It is where it can take notes from Formula One. Johnson threw some limelight about how they attracted larger fan bases.

“Netflix currently filming programs with both pro tennis and golf, similar to its F1 program. For those saying track is the greatest sport, athletes saying they’re worth more, fans resisting any change to the sport, if this is true please tell me why they did not choose us,” mentioned Johnson. 

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Since they released the Drive to Survive documentary, viewership soared to unprecedented levels. According to Nielsen, after season one, the gross average person-level audience viewership reached 288,779. Season two saw a slight decline in viewership to 231,724. However, it changed from that point in time. 

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Season three attracted 301,114 fans, and it rose to an all-time high for season four, which stood at 465,287. It is astonishing to see the interest levels for Formula One in America. Hence, Johnson wants a similar approach to track and field the same way how pro tennis and golf athletes are getting their own shows. In addition, 34% became fans of the sport, 30% mentioned how they understood the more, and 29% were engaged in the sport.

Drop in ratings at 2020 Tokyo Olympics

In the case of the Olympics, it is totally different. According to Forbes, the total TV audience for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics stood at 150 million. During the Atlanta Games 1996, where Johnson won two gold medals, they had a total viewership of 209 million. The Summer Olympics’ average audience revealed 33.1 million viewership, while Tokyo Olympics just had 15.1 million.

Of course, other sports viewership matters, but track and field, gymnastics, and swimming draw large numbers. Either of the three has specific shows related to the sport. Johnson’s plea for better track and field coverage sounds right, and better coverage would mean better growth for the sports. Hopefully, the IAAF can come up with a solution to save the sport from drowning to the bottom.

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Track and field need better coverage, as there are an end number of talents who work hard to showcase their talents. They deserve our rest. What do you guys think?