2012 NASCAR ratings thread

[IRL Ricky]

per Jayski

Bristol TV Ratings: ABC's live telecast of Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway was the most-viewed summer race at Bristol for ESPN or ABC and earned a 3.7 rating, averaging 5,905,051 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The viewership mark was set despite the race being pre-empted on ABC in Buffalo, Detroit, Rochester and Tulsa by NFL preseason games and in Miami due to hurricane coverage. The race telecast aired on different channels in those markets that are not included in the national rating. The rating was up from a 3.4 rating for the 2010 race, which was run and telecast as scheduled. Due to unusual circumstances, the 2011 race aired in part of the country on ABC, earning a 2.9 rating, but aired in other parts of the country on both ESPN and ESPN2. Hurricane Irene coverage in much of the East and NFL preseason games in some other markets led to the unusual TV coverage. Charlotte led all TV markets with a 9.9 rating for Saturday's Bristol telecast, followed closely by Indianapolis with a 9.8 rating.(ESPN), see past race TV Ratings race-by-race for four years on the 2012 TV Ratings page.(8-28-2012)

Ricky

[IRL Ricky]

per Jayski

Atlanta TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday night, Sept. 2, earned a 3.9 household coverage rating (3.4 U.S. rating), averaging 5,557,932 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year's race was weather-delayed and run on a Tuesday, but the rating is even with the 3.9 earned when the race was run and telecast as scheduled in 2010.(ESPN).(9-5-2012)

Ricky

[IRL Ricky]

Per jayski:

Richmond TV Ratings: ABC's live telecast of Saturday night's rain-plagued NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway won the night across all broadcast and cable networks, ranking as the most-viewed program among households and total viewers. The telecast earned a 3.3 rating, averaging 5,078,987 viewers in 3,720,390 households, according to the Nielsen Company. Due to rain, the start of the race was delayed more than an hour, and then a red flag for more rain delayed the finish until past 1:30am/et. The rating was down from a 3.7 for last year's event, when the race was run and telecast as scheduled, but up from a 3.1 for the 2010 race.

Ricky

[mdkiel]

domed

[Cupfan]

domed

Bristol? It's loud enough as it is.

[IRL Ricky]

Bristol? It's loud enough as it is.

Hehe! I get it!



Ricky

[IRL Ricky]

Oops! Double post!


Ricky

[IRL Ricky]

Per Jayski:

Chicago TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the opening race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 16, earned a 3.0 household coverage rating (2.6 U.S. rating), averaging 3,948,966 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year's race marked the first time the Chase opened at Chicagoland but the event was rained out and run on Monday. The 2010 Chase opener at New Hampshire Motor Speedway earned a 2.6 household coverage rating on ESPN

Chicago TV Ratings: ESPN's telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 15, earned a 1.3 household coverage rating (1.1 U.S. rating), averaging 1,656,559 viewers. The rating was up from last year's event that earned a 1.1 household coverage rating.

Ricky

[IRL Ricky]

per Jayski:

New Hampshire TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 23, earned a 2.6 household coverage rating (2.2 U.S. rating), averaging 3,516,958 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was down from a 3.1 for last year's race.

Kentucky TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 22, earned a 1.1 household coverage rating (1.0 U.S. rating), averaging 1,406,370 viewers. The track was hosting a fall event for the Nationwide Series for the first time so no direct ratings comparisons exist.

Ricky

[TimmyZ1]

Per Jayski

Dover TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 30, earned a 2.6 household coverage rating (2.2 U.S. rating), averaging 3,581,380 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was down from last year's race, which earned a 3.0 household coverage rating.(ESPN)(10-2-2012)

[IndyRacing2000]

Just to break down...pre-Chase ESPN average: 3.12

Pre-Chase cable average: 3.42

Chase ESPN average: 2.33

Not sure why they bother going up against the NFL...

[Z28]

I would bet actual money that they understand their ratings would drop going against the NFL but they see a 2.6 and 3.5 million viewers as acceptable.

When they see they still have 10X the ratings and 10X the viewers of the end of the season IICS races they must wonder why that series bothers to go up against anything.

[IRL Ricky]

Once again, per Jayski:

Talladega TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, Oct. 7, attracted an average audience of 5,113,374 that saw Matt Kenseth drive to victory in the 500-mile race. The telecast earned a 3.7 household coverage rating (3.2 U.S. rating), according to the Nielsen Company. Last year's race, which was run later in October, earned a 3.9 household coverage rating while the 2010 race rated 3.6.

Ricky

[IRL Ricky]

Per Jayski:

Charlotte TV Ratings: Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Charlotte, the fifth race of the Chase For the Cup, drew a 3.0 overnight rating on ABC even with last year (3.0), but up 3% from 2010 (2.9). The 3.0 is tied as the highest overnight of the 2012 Chase For the Cup, matching last week's Talladega race on ESPN (3.0), and surpassing Dover (2.1), New Hampshire (2.2) and Chicago.

Ricky

[mdkiel]

What have we learned here?

[ASM]

What have we learned here?

Not much - I like to see effects over time.

[PenelopePitstop]

Just to break down...pre-Chase ESPN average: 3.12

Pre-Chase cable average: 3.42

Chase ESPN average: 2.33

Not sure why they bother going up against the NFL...

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nascar-...5--nascar.html

NASCAR just signed an 8-year contract with Fox for the first 1/3 of their season for $2.4 billion (or $300 million per season). The last 1/3 of the season must only be worth 1.6 billion (or $200 million per season).

Hope this help to explain why they bother.

[mdkiel]

Not much - I like to see effects over time.

I'd say since 1970 or so NASCAR has proven that they are pretty good at producing the ching-aling.

[MoparsRule]

Just to break down...pre-Chase ESPN average: 3.12

Pre-Chase cable average: 3.42

Chase ESPN average: 2.33

Not sure why they bother going up against the NFL...

What have we learned here?

Going up against CFBB & The NFL isn't nearly as profitable going up against NBA or the MLB.

[IRL Ricky]

Per Jayski:

Charlotte TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of Charlotte's NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday night, Oct. 12, earned a 1.2 household coverage rating (1.0 U.S. rating), averaging 1,525,790 viewers. The rating was up from a 1.1 for last year's event.

Ricky

[ASM]

I'd say since 1970 or so NASCAR has proven that they are pretty good at producing the ching-aling.

Oh, sorry. I thought you were referring to Dale's not competing.

[IRL Ricky]

As usual; per Jayski:

Kansas TV Ratings: ESPN's live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas on Sunday, Oct. 21, earned 3.0 household coverage rating (2.5 U.S. rating), averaging 3,896,638 viewers. Last year's race earned a 3.1 rating while the 2010 race earned a 2.7. Among markets around the country, Greensboro, N.C., was the highest-rated for the Sprint Cup race at 8.2, while the race's home market of Kansas City was fifth at 5.8. Charlotte (6.6), Greenville, S.C. (6.1) and Knoxville, Tenn. (5.9) were second through fourth.

Ricky

[TimmyZ1]

Down 22% per Jayski as usual

Martinsville TV Ratings: ESPN’s live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 28, earned a 2.8 household coverage rating (2.4 U.S. rating), averaging 3,617,199 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. Last year’s telecast earned a 3.6 household coverage rating, while the rating was the same as the 2010 race telecast. Greensboro, N.C., led the nation with a 7.6 rating, followed by Birmingham (6.3), Richmond and Charlotte (5.9) and Norfolk (5.6).(ESPN)(10-31-2012)

Granted the Hurricane was coming but hadn't hit yet (and they don't give that excuse) I'm a little stunned. I'd see this type of drop if it was a crap mile a half race but not Martinsville.

[KevMcNJ]

I was expecting a healthy bounce considering Martinsville marked Dale Jrs return

[TimmyZ1]

I was expecting a healthy bounce considering Martinsville marked Dale Jrs return

I think Junior is a tad bit overrated but when we've seen dips this big or close it's always because the product isn't great. Martinsville, Dega, Daytona, and other short track and road courses don't see this type of issues

[KevMcNJ]

He is the most popular driver

And I think he has been for several years in a row

They dont call it Junior Nation for no reason

Also Ive never seen it but Ive heard stories of how the stands just empty when Junior is an early DNF

I really did assume the # would skyrocket this week

I dont think it was a terrible race, but the ADD crowd needs drama every other lap I suppose

[MoparsRule]

He is the most popular driver

And I think he has been for several years in a row

They dont call it Junior Nation for no reason

Also Ive never seen it but Ive heard stories of how the stands just empty when Junior is an early DNF

I really did assume the # would skyrocket this week

I dont think it was a terrible race, but the ADD crowd needs drama every other lap I suppose

I've seen it with mine own eyes at Bristol... and it was MUCH worse than when his diddy would crash out & not be able to return.

[TimmyZ1]

Down 14%

http://pressdog.typepad.com/dogblog/...s-down-14.html

[KevMcNJ]

Down 14%

http://pressdog.typepad.com/dogblog/...s-down-14.html

It was fun listening to Chocolate Meyers trying to spin it on the radio this week

I have to say the teams changing paint jobs every week makes it pretty difficult to even watch the races these days.

Sometimes its almost impossible to even figure out who is in a pack of cars since the colors and sponsors are never the same from one week to another

Its sometimes annoying when football or hockey teams go to a 3rd jersey but thats a little easier with just two teams

[TimmyZ1]

Flat compared to last year

http://pressdog.typepad.com/dogblog/...lat-at-33.html

Buttt.....

If anyone wants to copy Jenna's tweet she showed how much the ratings jumped during the find half hour with all the drama. She broke it down pretty nicely.