On Friday, February 6, the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics aired on Rai 1 and attracted 9,272,000 viewers, which corresponds to a 46.2% share. This figure represents over a million fewer viewers compared to the Torino 2006 opening ceremony, which was broadcast on Rai 2 and reached more than 10,700,000 viewers with a 37.7% share. The decrease in viewership highlights potential changes in audience engagement and media consumption since the last Winter Olympics.

In addition to the Winter Olympics, various other shows were aired on the same evening. For example, the series 'Io sono Farah' on Canale 5 managed to attract 1,873,000 viewers, achieving a 12% share; these figures indicate a competitive landscape for television viewership on Friday nights. Other broadcasts like 'Nessuno può scaricare mia figlia' on Rai 2 and 'Pirati dei Caraibi – Ai confini del mondo' on Italia 1 received significantly lower viewership, illustrating the dominance of the Olympics coverage on the night.

The substantial decline in viewership from the previous Winter Olympics could prompt media analysts to explore what factors have influenced audience interest, including changing demographics, viewing habits, and competing entertainment options. As the landscape of television continues to evolve, the implications of these ratings may also affect future Olympic broadcasts and highlight the challenges faced by traditional television in retaining viewership against digital platforms.