2001 NASCAR TV Ratings - Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site

TV RATINGS 2001

TV Ratings for the Year UPDATE: Winston Cup on NBC and TNT averaged a 3.9 adjusted national rating (right at 4m households) per broadcast, up 34% from a 2.9 in 2000, the final year before the consolidated television contract went into effect. The Busch Series races on NBC/TNT averaged a 1.4, up 75% from a 0.8 average national rating in 2000. The Cup telecasts also showed significant gains in the coveted Male 18-49 and Male 25-54 demographic categories. Overall, the 18-49 group rated 3.8 (up from 2.9 in 2000) while the 25-54 bunch averaged 4.3 per broacast (up from 3.2).(SpeedVision)(12-2-2001)
UPDATE: The 20 NASCAR Winston Cup telecasts on NBC and TNT averaged a final 3.9 national rating/ 10 share, a 34 percent
increase over the 2.9 national rating/ 8 share for the comparable races last year, according to figures released by Nielsen Media Research. NBC broadcast 11 NASCAR Winston Cup races and TNT carried nine during the second half of the 2001 season. In the first year of a six-year contract, the NBC/TNT NASCAR joint venture not only produced strong ratings but also drew the attention of advertisers for both the NASCAR Winston Cup and NASCAR Busch Series telecasts.(NBC PR), see That’s Racin’ for full PR/Column: NASCAR ratings up 34 percent on NBC, TNT; 29 percent on Fox, FX(12-6-2001)
NHIS TV Ratings: NBC’s final broadcast of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season from New Hampshire attracted a 3.2 overnight rating with an 8 share.(SpeedVision)(11-28-2001)
Atlanta Ratings: Sunday’s NAPA 500 from the Atlanta Motor Speedway on NBC earned a 4.0 overnight rating and 9 share, a 100 percent increase over last year’s 2.0 national rating (converted cable to network – plus the race last year was on Monday) for the NAPA 500 on ESPN. The rating peaked with a 5.0 in the final half-hour as Bobby Labonte took his second checkered flag of the 2001 season and Jeff Gordon clinched his fourth NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. The NASCAR on NBC pre-race show hosted by Bill Weber, continued its strong performance by delivering a 2.5 overnight rating/6 share.(NBC PR)(11-19-2001)
TV Ratings at Homestead: This past weekend, NBC carried both Cup and Busch races from Homestead, the Cup race Sunday pulled a 3.8/8 overnight, up 23% from the 2000 NBC telecast. The Busch, however, was pretty much level with 2000, registering a 1.6/4. Last November, when it aired the Homestead Winston Cup/Busch weekend the Cup race pulled 3.1 overnight rating with a 7 share, while the Busch race did a 1.7/4.(SpeedVision)(11-14-2001)
Rockingham TV Ratings: Sunday’s Cup race from Rockingham on TNT had an audience of just over 3 million households, and was up 16% over 2000. Saturday’s Busch audience of 1.165m households was up almost 75% from last year. The audiences for both races were nearly the same as for last week’s Cup/Busch program from Phoenix. TNT’s live Cup Happy Hour cablecast from Rockingham at noon Saturday had 722k households tuned in. The Craftsman Trucks on ESPN from California Speedway had 459k households viewing, a decent audience for the Trucks this year.(SpeedVision)(11-7-2001)
Phoenix TV Ratings: Sunday’s coverage of the Cup race on NBC from Phoenix generated a 4.0 national rating/9 share (2:43-6pm/et), according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. This represents an 82% increase over last year’s 2.2 converted national household rating on TNN. Sunday’s rating peaked at a 4.7/10 from 5:30-6:00pm/et as Jeff Burton took the checkered flag for the second time this season. The NASCAR on NBC pre-race show continued its strong showing, delivering a 2.3/8 from 2:00-2:43pm/et. Through 16 telecasts, NASCAR Winston Cup coverage on NBC and TNT has produced a 4.0 national rating/10 share, a 36 percent improvement over a 2.9/8 for the comparable period last year.(NBC PR)(11-1-2001)
TV Ratings – Memphis beats Martinsville: last weekend’s Memphis Busch race had roughly three times the audience of the Cup race from Martinsville. One could say that fans tuned in to the Busch race, expecting a Cup race and stuck around. No matter. Those that did stick around comprised the second largest audience for a Busch race this season – the largest being FOX’s July [actually February, not July] Daytona race, which was viewed in 2.964m households. Memphis had a audience of 2.657m households. The 1.295m households that tuned in to the Cup race Monday morning is about what you’d expect under the circumstance.(SpeedVision)(10-19-2001)
TV Ratings of Charlotte/Lowes: The outbreak of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan Sunday afternoon, played havoc with a lot of sand and with sports programming. Fox plowed ahead with its NFL program, while CBS did not show its early game. Following the CBS lead, NBC kicked its Winston Cup coverage to TNT just before the start of the race. The Sunday afternoon ratings took a beating with TNT’s Winston Cup show pulling a 2.7 rating (around 2.3m households) while the CART race from Houston on ESPN drew a dismal 178k households.(SpeedVision)(10-11-2001)
Record TV Ratings at Kansas: NBC’s coverage of the inaugural Cup race from Kansas Speedway on Sunday generated a 4.7 national rating/11 share, (1:15 p.m.-5:15pm), according to Nielsen Media Research. This represents a 104% increase over last year’s comparable rating and is the highest national rating ever for any auto race in competition with professional football. The previous record rating for an auto race televised at the same time as an NFL game was the 4.5 rating delivered by NBC’s coverage of the
MBNA Cal Ripken, Jr. 400 on Sept. 23, 2001 and the DieHard 500 from Talledega, Ala. on CBS on Oct. 12, 1997. Sunday’s rating peaked at a 5.7/12 from 4:30-5:00pm/et as Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag in Cup’s debut at the Kansas Speedway. Last year on the comparable weekend, NASCAR Winston Cup racing produced a 2.3 converted national household rating for the NAPA Autocare 500[Martinsville], which aired on ESPN on Oct. 1, 2000. NBC’s 45-minute NASCAR pre-race show scored an impressive 2.5/7 from 12:30-1:15pm/et.(NBC PR)(10-4-2001)
Kansas TV: NBC’s coverage of the inaugural NASCAR Winston Cup Kansas 400 on Sunday generated a 4.0 overnight rating/8 share, (1:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.), according to Nielsen Media Research. This represents a 74% increase over last year’s 2.3 converted national household rating for the NAPA Autocare 500, which aired on ESPN on the comparable weekend (10/1/00). NBC’s 45-minute NASCAR pre-race show also scored an impressive 2.8 overnight rating, 7 share (12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.). National ratings are expected Thursday.(NBC PR)(10-1-2001)
Dover TV Ratings: Last weekend, Winston Cup took on the NFL regular season for the first time since the consolidated NASCAR television contract was signed. The results – a 4.1 overnight rating on NBC Sports with an 8 share(SpeedVision)(9-26-2001)
TV Ratings – Richmond: Nielsen Media Research has delayed issuing its final national ratings report due to the chaos in New York City, but the broadcast network overnights and cable ratings have been compiled. Richmond had a three-night show culminating with Winston Cup Saturday evening on TNT. The Cup audience totaling just under 3m households and a 6.2 share. Friday night, the Busch Series on TNT drew 1.3m households – a pretty good audience for that time slot, while the trucks had just under half a million households tuned in Thursday night on ESPN2.
Winston Cup, Richmond (TNT, 9/8) 3.5 rating / 6.2 share / 2.927m households
Busch Series, Richmond, (TNT, 9/7) 1.5 rating / 2.8 share / 1.271m households
Craftsman Trucks, Richmond (espn2, 9/6) 0.58 rating / 1 share / 0.465m households(SpeedVision)(9-14-2001)
TV Ratings at Darlington: Darlington had decent household audiences on TNT for both Winston Cup and Busch – 3.738m and 1.190, respectively according to Nielsen Media Research. Having Cup Happy Hour run on the heels of the Busch race Saturday – and on TNT instead of CNNSI – produced a million-plus audience. The IRL pulled its normal 1.1 overnight rating with its normal 3 share. Those are becoming take-it-to-the-bank numbers for Tony’s tigers. CART wound up in a drag racing sandwich Sunday on espn2 and wound up with .0402m households tuned in.(See full story at SpeedVision)(9-6-2001)
Watkins Glen TV Ratings UPDATE: Winston Cup on NBC continues to draw larger than usual audiences for its mid-summer offerings. Historically, ratings peak in May and taper off gradually through the summer and fall. The trend this year is no different, but the ratings themselves are significantly higher across the board than in the recent past. The Global Crossing @ The Glen Sunday on NBC was the highest rated sports program of the weekend, registering a 4.7 overnight rating with a 12 share according to Nielsen Media Research. The broadcast gathered viewers throughout, peaking in the final half-hour at 5.7. Last year, NASCAR’s Watkins Glen stop was aired on cable and had an adjusted rating of 2.9.(SpeedVision)
UPDATE: NASCAR’s “Race for the Championship” on NBC and TNT, through six races, is averaging a 5.1 national rating/14 share, 36 percent better than last year’s 3.7/11 average over the same time period (5 telecasts). Sunday’s NASCAR Winston Cup Racing from Watkins Glen on NBC finished with a 4.7 national rating/13 share, 62 percent ahead of last year’s adjusted national rating of 2.9/10 for the same race on ESPN, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. For four consecutive races, NASCAR Winston Cup Racing on NBC has been the top-rated network sports programming each weekend. NBC’s coverage of Sunday’s Watkins Glen race was the highest-rated sports programming of the Aug. 11-12 weekend. The second highest-rated sports programming of the weekend was NBC’s exclusive coverage of the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, which earned a 3.4/7 on Sunday night. The U.S. Gymnastics Championships Saturday night on NBC earned a 2.7/6, tied with Saturday’s MLB on Fox with a 2.7/8. Sunday’s World Track and Field Championships on ABC earned a 2.4/6 and Sunday’s Buick Open golf on CBS earned a 2.4/6.(NBC PR)(8-16-2001)
Brickyard 400 TV Ratings UPDATE: Sunday’s Brickyard 400 on NBC earned the highest overnight rating in the event’s eight-year history. The 5.7 overnight rating and 13 share for the NASCAR Winston Cup race posted a 58 percent increase over last year’s 3.6 on ABC on a Saturday on the same weekend. The overnight rating is also 21 percent better than the previous record high for the race, a 4.7 in 1994 on ABC. It is also the highest overnight rating for a NASCAR event on NBC to date, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. The overnight rating was better than NBC’s previous best NASCAR overnight number – a 5.6 for the highest-rated primetime NASCAR event in history, the Pepsi 400 from Daytona International Speedway on NBC on July 7. The Brickyard 400 rating built every half hour throughout the race and peaked with a 6.7 during the final half hour from 5:30-6 p.m. ET as Winston Cup points leader Jeff Gordon took the Brickyard 400 checkered flag for the third time in his career. Indianapolis led the 51 metered markets with a 26 rating. National ratings are expected to be available tomorrow morning.(NBC PR)(8-6-2001)
UPDATE: NBC’s coverage of Sunday’s Brickyard 400 delivered the largest audience in the history of the event – 20 million viewers. The NASCAR Winston Cup race from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway earned a 6.2 national rating and 16 share, up 68 percent from last year’s 3.7/12 on ABC, Saturday of the same weekend, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. The 6.2 rating is the largest in the eight-year history of the event, the previous best was a 5.7 for the inaugural Brickyard on ABC in 1994. Through five races NASCAR on NBC and TNT is up 30 percent over the same time period last year. NBC/TNT is averaging a 5.2/14 (5 tc’s), compared to the 4.0/12 (4 tc’s – CBS, TNN, TBS, ABC) during the same time period last year. The 6.2 national rating is the largest NASCAR rating on NBC to date, even exceeding the 6.1 national rating in primetime for the Pepsi 400 from the Daytona International Speedway on July 7. The Brickyard 400 audience built every half-hour throughout the race and peaked with a 7.3 rating and 18 share during the final half-hour from 5:30-6 p.m. ET as Winston Cup points leader Jeff Gordon took the Brickyard 400 checkered flag for the third time in his career. For the third time in three telecasts NASCAR on NBC has attracted at least 20 million viewers, the Tropicana 400 from Chicagoland Speedway on July 15 was watched by 21 million and the Pepsi 400 attracted a primetime record 25 million viewers.(NBC PR)(8-7-2001)
TV News/Ratings: There is some good news from the Winston Cup television front – Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500 from Pocono got a 5.2 rating on TNT, up from a 4.2 for the same race at year ago- but there was also some bad news. Bloomberg News reported that Fox, NBC and Turner Sports woould suffer combined losses of at least $20 million on their broadcasts of NASCAR events this year despite higher ratings across the board. Increased competition for sports advertising dollars, an overall weakening of the economy and the increased supply and cost for commercial spots on NASCAR races are all contributing to the losses, the story said. According to the story written by Rick Westhead, the networks had 2,400 commercial spots on 28 over-the-air network broadcasts to sell this year, compared with 840 on 10 telecasts a year ago. The price for those spots on the average race increased from about $65,000 each last year to between $90,000 and $110,000 this year.(full story at That’s Racin’)(8-2-2001)
New Hampshire TV Ratings: TNT posted a solid 5.2 rating/12.5 share for NASCAR’s New England 300 (Sunday, July 22, from 2:03 to 5:38 p.m.). The race, from the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H., delivered 4,248,000 households, the second-most watched NASCAR race in basic cable history. Among the weekly highlights for TNT: NASCAR’s New England 300 was the top-rated sports program on cable for the week, the #1 sports program in delivery of adults 18-49 (3,897,000) and the top program overall in delivery of adults 25-54 (4,223,000). TNT’s 5.2 rating for the New England 300 was a 24 percent increase vs. the same race in 2000 (4.2 rating). For NASCAR, the race was #1 in delivery of adults 18-49 (3,897,000) in basic cable history. The race tied for all-time best delivery of adults 25-54 (The Coca-Cola 600 on May 24, 1998 on TBS Superstation also delivered 4,223,000). The race was the second most-watched ever in basic cable history (TNN’s NASCAR Winston Cup Series delivered 4,524,000 households on Feb. 21, 1999).(NASCAR/Turner Network Television PR)(7-24-2001)
NBC TV Ratings UPDATE: The Inaugural Tropicana 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race from the new Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday was the highest rated sports event of the weekend. The race earned a 4.8 overnight rating and 12 share, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. There is no ratings comparison as this was an open date on the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule in 2000. The rating built throughout the race and peaked with a 6.2 during the final 15 minutes from 6-6:15 p.m. ET as rookie Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag for the second time this season after taking over for Dale Earnhardt after his tragic death at the Daytona 500, February 18. The Tropicana 400’s 4.8 rating topped all sports programming over the weekend followed by Major League Baseball on Fox on Saturday (3.9) and the Senior Players Championship final round on ABC on Sunday (2.5). For every half-hour from 3:30-6 p.m. ET the Tropicana 400 beat the combined network sports competition on ABC (PGA/Senior PGA) and CBS (Tennis/NFL Quarterback Challenge/Tour de France). The Tropicana 400 was the second NASCAR Winston Cup race in NBC and TNT’s new six-year agreement with NASCAR to telecast “The Race for the Championship” over the second half of the NASCAR season. National ratings are expected to be available tomorrow morning(NBC PR)(7-16-2001)
UPDATE: NBC’s coverage of Sunday’s inaugural Tropicana 400 from the new Chicagoland Speedway was watched by 21 million viewers. The Tropicana 400 earned a 5.6 national rating and 14 share, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. There is no ratings comparison as this was an open date on the NASCAR Winston Cup schedule in 2000. The 5.6 national rating is the best NASCAR Winston Cup afternoon delivery for races from May through November since the inaugural running of the Brickyard 400 from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 6, 1994 on ABC. Through its first two races, NASCAR on NBC is averaging a 5.8 rating and 14 share. The national rating peaked with a 6.6 during the final 15 minutes from 6-6:15 p.m. ET as rookie Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag for the second time this season after taking over for Dale Earnhardt after his tragic death at the Daytona 500, February 18. For the second consecutive week NASCAR on NBC has attracted more than 20 million viewers. Last Saturday’s Pepsi 400 attracted a primetime record 25 million viewers. Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series race from Chicagoland Speedway earned a 2.2 national rating and 7 share. There is also no ratings comparison as this was an open date on the NASCAR Busch Series schedule in 2000(NBC PR) and a story at MotorsportsTV: NBC Final Ratings Skyrocket in Chicago(7-18-2001)
NBC Ratings UPDATE 2 National News: NBC’s coverage of the Pepsi 400 from Daytona on Saturday night delivered a 5.8 overnight rating/11 share for the 8 p.m.-11:15 p.m. broadcast, making it the highest-rated primetime NASCAR race ever, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. The 5.7 overnight rating represents a 41% increase over last year’s 4.1 overnight rating/9 share on CBS and surpassed the previous record 4.9 overnight rating/10 share for the Lowe’s 600 May 27 on Fox to become NASCAR’s highest-rated primetime race to date. The rating, which increased every half-hour until the race’s dramatic conclusion, peaked with a 7.0/13 while Dale Earnhardt Jr. was making his move from sixth-place to first on the race’s final five laps and crossing the finish line to NBC play-by-play announcer Allen Bestwick’s call of “Dale Earnhardt Jr., using lessons learned from his father to go from sixth to first and score the victory in the Pepsi 400.” Earnhardt’s win came on the same track where his father perished in a final lap crash Feb. 18 at the Daytona 500 and, as lead pit reporter Bill Weber told him in his Victory Lane interview, 11 years to the day from his father’s first Winston Cup win at Daytona on July 7, 1990. The Pepsi 400 was the first race in NBC and TNT’s new six-year agreement with NASCAR to telecast “The Race for the Championship” over the second half of the NASCAR season. National ratings are expected to be available Tuesday.(NBC PR)(7-8-2001)
UPDATE: The overnight rating for the Pepsi 400 on NBC was a 5.8 — a 41 percent increase from last year’s Pepsi 400. It was the first race for NBC as part of the $2.4 billion NASCAR television deal with NBC and Fox. The tune-in increased each half-hour during the race, going from 5.0 to 7.0. An overnight rating measures households in the country’s 50 largest markets, about 60 percent of the country. The market with the largest audience was Greensboro, N.C., at 14.2, followed by Orlando with a 13.5. New York was the country’s lowest market at 2.8.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(7-9-2001)
UPDATE 2: NBC’s coverage of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s dramatic victory at the Pepsi 400 from Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night was the highest-rated primetime NASCAR race in history. It delivered a 6.1 national rating/13 share for the 8-11:15
p.m. ET broadcast, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. NBC Sports research estimates that 25 million viewers watched all or part of the telecast, which was network television’s highest-rated program Saturday night. The Pepsi 400 was the first race in NBC and TNT’s new six-year agreement with NASCAR to telecast “The Race for the Championship” over the second half of the NASCAR season. NBC’s 4.4 rating among the highly coveted 18-49 adult demographic from 8-11 p.m. also lapped the field as CBS registered a 1.6, ABC a 2.2 and Fox a 2.5 in that desired demographic Saturday. The strong performance by the Pepsi 400 propelled NBC to a primetime ratings victory Saturday night. From 8-11 p.m. ET, NBC’s 6.1 rating/13 share easily outdistanced the competition. ABC and Fox each averaged an identical 4.1 rating/8 share while CBS posted a 4.0/8. NBC’s 6.1/13 for the Pepsi 400 represents a 17% increase over last year’s 5.2/12 on CBS. The previous primetime record for a NASCAR race was a 5.4/13 for the July 3, 1999 running of the Pepsi 400 on CBS. The rating, which increased every half-hour until the race’s dramatic conclusion, peaked with a 7.4/15 from 10:30-11:00 p.m. ET while Dale Earnhardt Jr. was making his move from sixth-place to first on the race’s final six laps(NBC PR)(7-11-2001)
TV Ratings Up: Ratings for the inaugural season of NASCAR Winston Cup coverage on FOX Sports and its FX cable network rose 29 percent from the first half of last year. FOX, which finished its coverage this season with last weekend’s Dodge/Save Mart 350, said Thursday it averaged a 6.1 rating and rating and 15 share for its 14 Winston Cup Series race. That was up 17 percent from the 5.3/14 last year on ABC and CBS for nine races during the first half of the season. FOX estimated it averaged 19.9 million viewers per race, up 1 million from last year. FOX Sports and FX combined to average a 5.3/13 for 19 races, 29 percent above the 4.1/10 for the first 19 races last season on ABC, CBS, ESPN, TNN and TBS(CNN/SI/AP)(6-29-2001)
TV Ratings at Sears Point: FOX’s final NASCAR telecast Sunday picked up a hefty 5.0 rating with a 13 share, and left the live CART race foundering with a 0.61 rating and just over 500,000 households. By comparison, the NHRA eliminations from Gateway, which was on later in the night with no racing competition, pulled in 524,000 households(SpeedVision)(6-26-2001)
2001 TV Ratings: The ratings for Fox/FX: Daytona 500, 10.0; Rockingham, 8.2; Las Vegas, 6.5; Atlanta, 6.7; Darlington, 6.1; Bristol, 6.2; Texas, 7.0; Martinsville, 5.4; Talladega, 6.4; California, 5.4; Richmond (FX-cable); Charlotte, 5.3; Dover, 4.8; Michigan (FX-cable), 4.8; Pocono, 4.4.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-25-2001)
TV Ratings for Michigan: The Winston Cup (TV Ratings) numbers were down slightly from last week, dropping to a 4.3 rating from a 4.8 two weeks ago in FOX’s last effort. Sunday’s same-day broadcast of the NHRA eliminations from Columbus was up 24 percent from the same show a year ago and the USAC sprinters pulled a steady 226,000 households despite a Sunday 7 p.m. time slot.(SpeedVision)(6-21-2001)
TV Ratings UPDATE: The ratings are in for Michigan, and the Winston Cup race was the most watched show ever on FX, receiving a 4.8 share (FX-available universe), representing 3.2 million homes. The final laps of the race received a 5.8 share(MotorsportsTV Newsletter)(6-13-2001)
UPDATE: FX’s telecast of the Michigan 400 (June 10, 1:13-4:30 PM) was the highest rated, most-watched program in the network’s seven-year history, recording a 4.8 household rating, 3.2 million homes and 4.9 million viewers. In the final 15 minutes of the race (4-4:15 PM), as fans watched Jeff Gordon hold off Ricky Rudd for the thrilling victory, coverage peaked at a 5.8 HH rating, 3.9 million homes and 6.3 million viewers. FX’s Pre-Race show (12:30-1:13 PM) posted a 2.3 HH rating and 1.5 million homes. Race coverage outpaced the networks previous marks, which were a 4.2 HH rating for Terminator 2 (2/1/98) when the network was in 34 million homes; and 2.6 million households and 4.5 million viewers for its telecast of the Pontiac Excitement 400 from Richmond (5/5/01).(NASCAR PR)(6-14-2001)
TV Ratings at Dover: The 4.906 million households that Nielsen Media Research estimates tuned in to the FOX Sports broadcast of the NASCAR Winston Cup race at Dover is up 50% from 2000. That’s the first time in 2001 that a FOX Winston Cup race audience has been below 5m. The small markets did not give the 4.6 overnight Winston Cup rating much of a shot this week, taking it to only 4.8 for the final national rating.(full list at SpeedVision) and a story there: Racing on TV This Spring(6-9-2001)
Coca Cola 600 an TV: The Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte on FOX Sports drew a 4.9 overnight with a 10 share. That’s the highest rated prime time NASCAR telecast in history(SpeedVision)(5-29-2001)
FX and The Winston: FX posted strong numbers in its ratings for Saturday night’s Winston all-star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, despite the 2 hour, 10-minute rain delay during the middle of the broadcast. FX’s complete race coverage delivered a 3.5 household rating, 2.25 million homes, and an average of 3.9 million viewers for the 5-hour, 34-minute telecast that concluded at approximately 1:10 a.m. Sunday. Although the telecast went deep into the early morning hours of Sunday, viewership rose as the telecast went on. Prerace programming drew a 3.5 household rating; the rain delay broadcast a 3.5 rating; and The Winston race moved to a 3.7. The average of 3.5 for the complete coverage was the same as that of TNN last season, when the race telecast ran from 7:30-11:32 p.m(That’s Racin’)(5-24-2001)
FX Ratings: FX’s telecast of the Pontiac Excitement 400, the network’s first NASCAR Winston Cup Series race, delivered the
highest viewership of any program in its seven-year history. It ranked #1 among all basic cable programs on Saturday, May 5, finished #3 among all basic cable programs for the week ending May 6 (household rating and HH impressions), and also was the #1 show for the week among Adults 25-54 and Men 25-54. In addition, the FX Pre-race show (7:30-8 PM) ranked #4 among Adults 18-49 and #8 in HH rating/impressions for the week. The 2001 Pontiac Excitement 400 (8-11:25 PM) earned a 4.03 HH rating, which was 14% above ESPN’s HH rating of the same race one year ago. The telecast averaged 2.6 million homes and over 4.5 million viewers. Race coverage peaked at a 5.22 HH rating and over 6 million viewers (11-11:15 PM), and the final hour-and-a-half averaged a 4.4 HH rating. The Pre-race show posted a 2.6 HH rating or 1.7 million homes. While carried in 12.7 million fewer homes(keep calling folks, see number below) than ESPN was in May 2000, FX delivered increased impressions in every key demo versus ESPN’s 2000 telecast – Adults 25-54, +9%; Adults 18-49, +19%; Adults 18-34, +33%; Men 18-34, +13%; Men 18-49, +9% and Men 25-54, +5%.(NASCAR PR) and see SpeedVision’s weekly column: TV – Who Watched What Last Weekend(5-12-2001)
TV at California: A NASCAR Winston Cup race on FOX Sports posted an overnight rating under 5.0 for the first time this season. Nonetheless, the 4.8 overnight for the race at California Speedway was up nearly 40 percent from last year and the small-market bump pushed the final national rating to 5.4 with a 14 share, keeping the string of 5m-plus household audiences intact through 10 races.(SpeedVision)(5-4-2001)
TV Ratings Update: While Sunday’s NAPA 500 at the California Speedway marked the start of the second-quarter of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season, first-quarter television ratings averaged a 6.8 and are up 39% compared season-to-date with last season. The week-by-week household share is averaging a 17, a 31% increase, compared to the same time last season. Television ratings numbers are based on information and numbers provided by Nielsen Media Research. The schedule has included an unprecedented nine consecutive broadcast network appearances on first-year rightsholder FOX Sports, comparatively last year’s schedule included five events on two different broadcast networks and four on cable among two different rightsholders. Each race in the first quarter of the season gained significant year-to-year ratings and significantly more household reach with each event having been on broadcast network television. FOX Sports’ NASCAR Winston Cup Series coverage is the only broadcast sports package that is enjoying year-to-year growth. Through Talladega, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series total viewer comparison in millions is 191.7 (2001) vs. 103.9 (2000), an 85% increase in viewership season-to-date. See the full story and race by race ratings and 2001 vs 2000 comparisions at NASCAR Ratings Up 39% After Reaching Quarter Point of Schedule(4-30-2001)
Talladega and TV: Once again, FOX Sports’ Winston Cup telecast topped the week’s national television sports ratings with a final 6.4 national rating for the Talladega 500 Sunday. The show carved out a 17 share with 6.541m households tuned in. The Knicks/Raptors NBA playoff game running opposite the race on NBC pulled a 3.2 final national rating. To date, the nine Winston Cup races on FOX Sports this year have averaged a stunning 6.8 with a 17 share. That’s compared to the 4.9/13 combined broadcast/cable average for the same nine races(SpeedVision)(4-27-2001)
TV Ratings: FOX had a 5.4 final national rating for its coverage of the Martinsville Winston Cup race was up 46% from 2000. That’s huge for a race that never has scored big in the ratings department. However, for the first time this year, the audience came in under six million households – 5.519 million to be exact. Year to date, FOX Sports has averaged a 6.8 national rating and a 17 share for its coverage of Winston Cup. See full story and ratings at SpeedVision: TV – Final National Ratings from April 6-8(4-17-2001)
Martinsville TV and Golf: Nielsen Media Research suffered a meltdown this weekend and all of the rating’s reports for the weekend have been delayed, some of the overnights until late Tuesday. What we know so far is that FOX Sports finally came back to earth with a 4.5 overnight rating and an 11 share for NASCAR’s Virginia 500 at Martinsville Sunday. The Tiger Woods phenomenon had to have impacted viewership later in the afternoon, his unprecendented and successful quest for a fourth consecutive major, drew a 13 overnight rating with a 28 share for CBS’ coverage of The Masters(SpeedVision)(4-11-2001)
TV Ratings at Bristol: For the sixth consecutive week, FOX Sports scored a solid overnight rating for its coverage Sunday of the Winston Cup race from Bristol. The 5.3 overnight rating, 12 share was a tenth of a point higher than last week’s Darlington overnight, which jumped to a 6.1 final national rating.(SpeedVision)(3-27-2001)
TV Ratings: According to Nielsen Media Research, the late NCAA Baskeyball games Sunday pulled a 7.1 overnight rating on CBS. The games that ran opposite the Cup race at Darlington pulled a 5.8, while the race managed a 5.2 (12 share) on Fox(SpeedVision)(3-22-2001)
TV at Atlanta: FOX Sports scored an overnight rating for Sunday’s Cracker Barrell 500 from Atlanta Motor Speedway of 5.7 with a 13 share. That made the Cup race the highest rated sports program for the fourth straight week, this time edging out CBS Sports telecast of the NCAA Basketball Tournament selection show(SpeedVision)(3-12-2001)
Vegas TV Ratings: Sunday’s Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the highest-rated sports program of the weekend, according to overnight ratings provided by FOX Sports. Sunday’s race garnered a 6.1 rating and a 13 share, which represented a 49 percent increase over the 2000 event at LVMS. Each rating point represents approximately two million people. The rating was higher than any NASCAR event in the 2000 season with the exception of the Daytona 500. The overnight rating represents ratings from the top 49 media markets in the country. The national rating will be available later in the week. Sunday’s rating was the highest ever for an event at LVMS. The previous high rating was a 6.0 for the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup event.(LVMS PR)(3-5-2001)
TV Ratings: Fox Sports got a 7.0 overnight rating on Sunday’s telecast of the first 51 laps of the Dura-Lube 400 and the rain-delay programming. It was the highest rating for a sports telecast over the weekend and better than the ratings for three of the past seven Daytona 500s.(That’s Racin’)(2-27-2001)
Daytona 500 TV Ratings: Fox’s coverage of Sunday’s Daytona 500 race earned an 8.4 rating and 19 share, the highest overnight rating for the NASCAR race since 1986. The rating was an increase of 11 percent over last year’s 7.6 and 18 share when the race was shown on CBS. The previous high ratings for the event were 7.9 in 1992, 1994 and 1999(Washington Post/AP)(2-19-2001)
TV Stuff: The Fox broadcast of the Budweiser Shootout earned a 4.2 overnight rating and a 10 share, the best rating since 1998 for the event(Times Dispatch)(2-13-2001)