Television executives raved about the numbers. The athletes got more attention than they thought possible.

Maybe it was the effect of "The Hunger Games" and bow-and-arrow-toting heroine Katniss Everdeen, or the lure of competing at a 198-year-old venue, or some combination.

Whatever the reason, archery was hot atthe London Olympics.

Friday was the final day of competition at Lord's Cricket Ground. No bats were in play—only bows, and NBC says millions around the globe were watching.

Jacob Wukie of the U.S. was part of the silver-medalist men's team at Lord's. "Everybody is kind of following archery a little bit right now," he says.

The challenge: Keeping those new fans, without the Olympic backdrop.

NBC, majorty owned by Comcast, is the parent company of CNBC.