Indy TV Ratings UPDATE: NBC’s broadcast of the Brickyard 400 got a 5.7 overnight rating and 12 share, even with last year’s overnight. In 2001, the small market bump yielded a final rating of 6.2. This year’s final rating will be available on Thursday.(MotorsportsTV)(8-5-2002) UPDATE: Sunday’ Brickyard 400 on NBC delivered a 5.7 overnight rating/13 share, tying last year as the highest overnight rating in the event’s nine-year history, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. NBC’ Brickyard 400 coverage (2:30-6:15 p.m. ET) outperformed all network weekend sports competition, generating an overnight rating 58 percent higher than the closest competition (Fox’ 3.6 for Saturday’ four-game regional MLB coverage). The Brickyard 400 also delivered the highest overnight rating for a sports event in nearly a month (since Fox’ primetime coverage of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 9). The Brickyard’ 5.7 overnight rating surpassed such recent events as ABC’ primetime coverage of the Battle at Bighorn and ABC’ coverage of the British Open. The 5.7 overnight rating and 13 share for NBC’ second year in covering the NASCAR Winston Cup race from the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway ties the 2001 overnight and posted a 58 percent increase over the 3.6 on ABC in 2000 on Saturday of the same weekend. The overnight rating is also 21 percent better than the previous record high for the race, a 4.7 for the race’ inaugural running in 1994 on ABC. The Brickyard 400 rating built every half hour and peaked with a 7.3 during the final 15 minutes from 6-6:15 p.m. ET as Bill Elliott took the checkered flag for the second straight week. This peak increased nine percent from the 2001 peak of a 6.7 as Jeff Gordon won his third Brickyard title. Indianapolis led the 53 metered markets with a 20.3 rating/ 44 share.(NBC Sports PR)(8-5-2002)
