The 2008 Sprint Cup season got off to a strong start Saturday night by notching a 5.1 household rating and a 9 share (8.5 million viewers) for the Budweiser Shootout shown on Fox from Daytona International Speeday. Saturday’s 5.1/9 is a +6% gain over last year’s 4.8/9 for the Shootout, according to Nielsen Fast National ratings released today. The Budweiser Shootout powered FOX to primetime wins for the night in both household rating and the Adults 18-49 demographic. Among all homes, FOX’s 5.1/9 for the Shootout scored a +19% win over second place NBC’s 4.3/8 and FOX’s 3.0 rating in Adults 18-49 was good for an impressive +30% win over ABC’s 2.3. The Shootout also saw ratings increases among Men 25-54 (+6%, 5.1 vs. 4.8) and Men 55+ (+8%, 5.6 vs. 5.2). Viewing of the Budweiser Shootout peaked at a 6.1/11 from 10:00-10:10pm/et as over 10 million viewers saw Dale Earnhardt Jr. take the checkered flag in his first outing in the #88 car for Hendrick Motorsports.(Fox PR)(2-11-2008)
