NBCs broadcast of Saturday nights Pepsi 400 drew a 5.1 overnight rating and 10 share from Nielsen Media Research to top all sports events on television this weekend, the Sports Business Daily says. The race ratings easily outdrew the 4.0/11 NBC garnered for the Wimbledon womens final. Final figures in 2002 show that the race drew a 5.2/12 for Fox, while the 2001 race on NBC drew a 6.1/13.( Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter ) AND NBC’s coverage of NASCAR’s Pepsi 400 led to a comfortable ratings win for the night, as viewers began to return to the television after a boisterous 4th of July. Overall, NBC averaged a 5.4 rating/12 share, well in front of CBS’ 4.1/9. FOX averaged a 2.6/6 and finished third, beating ABC’s 2.5/5. Among adults 18-49, NBC lapped the field with a 3.3 rating. FOX took second at 1.4 and ABC, 1.3, and CBS, 1.1, were close behind. Due to the nature of live events, particularly sporting events that air in primetime in much of the country, but not all, numbers are subject to change. At 8 p.m., NBC’s NASCAR coverage took the hour with a 5.4/12. CBS was second with a repeat of “The Price is Right,” which lost the showcase showdown with a 4.3/10. FOX was third with “Scream 2,” beating ABC’s presentation of “Star Trek: First Contact,” which had a 2.1/5 for the hour. The NASCAR race culminated during the 9 p.m. hour for most of the country, averaging a 5.7/13. “The District” had a 4.3/9 for second place. FOX’s “Scream 2” concluded with a 2.8/6, ahead of ABC’s “Star Trek” movie. NBC was still in first at 10 p.m. with lingering race coverage. “The Agency” took second for CBS with a 3.9/8 and “Dragnet” on ABC trailed with a 3.2/7.( Zap2It ) UPDATE: NBCs coverage of NASCARs Pepsi 400 from Daytona International Speedway was watched by 20 million viewers and earned a 6.0 national rating/13 share, a gain of 15 percent over last years 5.2/12 on Fox, according to Nielsen Media Research. This also marks the fifth time in three years that NASCAR on NBC has cracked a six national rating. The rating built throughout the race and peaked with a 7.1/15 from 10-10:24pm/et as rookie Greg Biffle took the Pepsi 400 checkered flag to score his first NASCAR Winston Cup victory. The Pepsi 400s 15 percent ratings increase starts the 2003 NASCAR on NBC & TNT season in impressive fashion and continues two years of significant ratings growth. NASCAR on NBC & TNT experienced a 59 percent increase from 2000 (2.7/8) to 2002 (4.3/10).(NBC PR)(7-8-2003)
