2nd Most-Watched Kentucky Derby Since 1989
Viewership up 9% from Last Year; Up 12% from 2011
9.7 National Rating up 8% from Last Year; Up 14% from 2011
NBC Sports ‘Big Event Strategy’ Leads to More Than 16 Million Viewers for 3rd Time in 5 years
NEW YORK – May 7, 2013 – NBC Sports’ coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby drew 16.2 million viewers, making it the second most-watched Kentucky Derby since 1989. The viewership for the race is up nine percent from last year’s Derby (14.8 million), and up 12 percent from the Derby in 2011 (14.5 million), according to official national data provided today by The Nielsen Company.
Utilizing NBC Sports’ ‘Big Event Strategy,’ three of the last five Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 16 million viewers.
Saturday’s race (6:05-6:53 p.m. ET), won by Orb, is the second most-watched Kentucky Derby dating back to 1989 (18.5 million on ABC), only surpassed by the 2010 Derby won by Super Saver (16.5 million).
- The household rating of 9.7/21 is the best since 2010 (9.8/23), and tied 2009 as the second highest-rated Derby since 1992 (10.3/30 on ABC).
- The 9.7/21 rating is up eight percent from last year’s race (9.0/20) and up 14 percent from 2011 (8.5/19).
- The pre-race on NBC (5-6:05 p.m. ET) drew 9.1 million viewers, an increase of 12 percent from last year (8.1 million) and is the second-best pre-race viewership dating back to 1992.
- NBC Sports Network’s five-hour pre-race show (11 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET) drew 500k viewers, up 19 percent from last year (421k).
MORE PEOPLE WATCH THE DERBY ON NBC: NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 13 races averages more than 2 million more viewers than the previous 12 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.3 million vs.12.0 million, up 19 percent). NBC’s average viewership of 14.3 million over the last 13 Kentucky Derby broadcasts is more than six million more than the last six years that ABC aired the Derby (1995-2000).
KENTUCKY DERBY CONTINUES TO BE A HIT WITH FEMALE VIEWERS: The Kentucky Derby once again proved to be very popular with female viewers. In fact, 52 percent of Derby viewers were women, making it the only annual sporting event that draws more female viewers than male viewers.
KENTUCKY DERBY VIEWERSHIP | |||
2013 | 16.2 million | NBC | Orb |
2012 | 14.8 million | NBC | I’ll Have Another |
2011 | 14.5 million | NBC | Animal Kingom |
2010 | 16.5 million | NBC | Super Saver |
2009 | 16.1 million | NBC | Mine That Bird |
2008 | 14.2 million | NBC | Big Brown |
2007 | 13.7 million | NBC | Street Sense |
2006 | 12.9 million | NBC | Barbaro |
2005 | 13.6 million | NBC | Giacomo |
2004 | 14.6 million | NBC | Smarty Jones |
2003 | 11.8 million | NBC | Funny Cide |
2002 | 12.8 million | NBC | War Emblem |
2001 | 13.5 million | NBC | Monarchos |
2000 | 9.1 million | ABC | Fusaichi Pegasus |
1999 | 9.9 million | ABC | Charismatic |
1998 | 9.5 million | ABC | Real Quiet |
1997 | 11.3 million | ABC | Silver Charm |
1996 | 11.0 million | ABC | Grindestone |
1995 | 9.3 million | ABC | Thunder Gulch |
1994 | 12.1 million | ABC | Go For Gin |
1993 | 11.5 million | ABC | Sea Hero |
1992 | 13.7 million | ABC | Lil E Tee |
1991 | 13.4 million | ABC | Strike The Gold |
1990 | 15.6 million | ABC | Unbridled |
1989 | 18.5 million | ABC | Sunday Silence |
TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2013 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)
1. | Louisville | 43.7/69 |
2. | Ft. Myers | 19.7/37 |
3. | Cincinnati | 18.8/37 |
T4. | Knoxville | 18.4/31 |
T4. | West Palm Beach | 18.4/35 |
6. | Buffalo | 15.9/33 |
7. | Oklahoma City | 15.1/25 |
8. | Columbus | 14.8/31 |
9. | Indianapolis | 13.9/28 |
10. | Nashville | 13.2/22 |
11. | Jacksonville | 13.1/21 |
12. | Orlando | 12.8/28 |
13. | Richmond | 12.7/22 |
14. | Tampa-St. Pete | 12.5/23 |
15. | Baltimore | 12.4/26 |
T16. | Boston | 12.2/28 |
T16. | Washington D.C. | 12.2/27 |
18. | Dayton | 11.7/24 |
19. | Minneapolis-St. Paul | 11.6/28 |
T20. | Greensboro | 11.5/23 |
T20. | New York | 11.5/26 |
PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 18: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner Orb will take one more step to try to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 34 years, since Affirmed in 1978. NBC Sports Group coverage of The Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins Wednesday, May 15 at 3:30 p.m. ET and continues with the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 18.
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