The most watched event on was the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. Broadcast live on NBC, this was not just a sporting event; it was the single largest entertainment production of the year. With over 2 billion viewers globally, it represented the apex of "monoculture"—the last time the entire world watched the same images at the same time via the same broadcast channels.

This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later.

The television industry was also undergoing significant changes in 2008. The rise of cable and satellite television had led to a proliferation of new channels and programming options, and the traditional broadcast model was being disrupted. The use of digital video recorders (DVRs) and online streaming platforms was also changing the way people consumed television content.