NBC’s TV-Only Kentucky Derby Coverage Peaked at 15.7 Million Viewers as Medina Spirit Raced to Victory, Delivering Bob Baffert’s Record 7th Kentucky Derby Win
2021 Kentucky Derby Draws More Viewers Than All Awards Shows for First Time Ever & is NBC’s Most-Watched Program since NFL Divisional Playoffs in January
NBC Sports Digital Sets Kentucky Derby Record
The Preakness Stakes is Sat., May 15 at 5 p.m. ET on NBC
STAMFORD, Conn. – May 4, 2021 – NBC Sports’ presentation of the 147th Kentucky Derby averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 14.5 million viewers as the “Run for the Roses” returned to its traditional first Saturday in May date – marking a 54% increase from last year’s event (9.4 million on Sept. 5), according to official national data provided by Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
Viewership peaked at 15.7 million viewers from 6:45-7 p.m. ET on NBC as Medina Spirit mounted a wire-to-wire victory and trainer Bob Baffert won the event for a record seventh time.
The TV-only average audience of 14.4 million viewers topped all entertainment awards shows for the first time ever and marked NBC’s most watched broadcast since the NFL Divisional Playoffs in January.
NBC Sports Digital’s presentation of the Kentucky Derby delivered a record Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 139,300 viewers for the event via the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com.
The NBC-TV household rating for the broadcast (6:31-7:18 p.m. ET) was a 7.1/22.
146TH PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 15: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit attempts the next step in his Triple Crown quest. NBC Sports’ coverage of The 146th Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins Friday, May 14 at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 15 at 5 p.m. ET, with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
| PREAKNESS STAKES COVERAGE | |||
| Date | Time | Event | Network |
| Fri., May 14 | 5 p.m. | Black-Eyed Susan Stakes | NBCSN |
| Sat., May 15 | 2 p.m. | Preakness Saturday | NBCSN |
| Sat., May 15 | 5 p.m. | Preakness Stakes | NBC |
TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2021 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)
| 1. | Louisville | 28.7/59 |
| 2. | Ft. Myers | 18.2/36 |
| 3. | Knoxville | 16.2/30 |
| 4. | West Palm Beach | 15.5/35 |
| 5. | Cincinnati | 15.1/36 |
| 6. | Cleveland | 14.9/35 |
| 7. | Detroit | 14.0/32 |
| 8. | Providence | 13.3/31 |
| T9. | Indianapolis | 13.1/32 |
| T9. | Buffalo | 13.1/29 |
--NBC SPORTS--
