TV Times - 2008 Daytona 500 Viewer Ratings Actually “Up” Over 2007
by Lou Modestino ~ February 23rd, 2008 @ 8:36 pm. Filed under: TV Times. 1,080 reads
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The 50th running of the Daytona 500 on FOX scored increased average audience, total audience and household ratings compared to a year ago, according to fast national figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. The 50th Daytona 500 earned a 10.2/20 household rating/share and averaged 17.8 million viewers, and both the rating and average audience is +1 percent better than a year ago (10.1/20, 17.5 million). It was also the second highest-rated and second most-watched 500 ever on FOX, trailing the 2005 race in both stats. That Sunday’s audience results gave FOX Sports a Speedweeks 2008 “triple-play.” All three NASCAR on FOX events televised during Speedweeks posted improved ratings and viewership. |
Ratings for the 50th Daytona 500 continue an impressive winning streak for FOX Sports. Over the last two months, FOX wrapped up its most-watched NFL season in twelve years, aired the most-watched NFC Championship Game in 13 years, broadcast the most-watched Super Bowl of all-time, then notched ratings increases for both the NFL Pro Bowl and - for the first time ever – for all Daytona-related programming.
Some 33.5 million Americans watched at least part of the Great American Race; a +2 percent improvement over 2007’s 33.0 million. The Daytona 500 affirmed its status as one of the premier annual events in sports. That Sunday’s 10.2/20 is +2 percent better than the 10.0/16 that NBC averaged for Sunday Night Football this year. This marks the first time that the Daytona 500 has earned a higher rating than the prime time NFL package.
Looking at other top Winter/Spring events, the Daytona 500 also posted a higher rating than the most recent NCAA Final Four on CBS (9.9/18), final round of The Masters (9.1/22 on CBS), and Kentucky Derby (8.8/21 on NBC).
The Daytona 500 remains far and away the top-rated event in American motorsports. That race more than doubled the rating of last year’s Indianapolis 500 (+137 percent vs. 4.3/12). The race also drew ratings comparable to prime time’s biggest hits. The 10.2/20 for Daytona would rank it #9 among all prime time shows, and the 6.5 rating among Adults 18-49 would rank it #7 among all prime shows in that key demographic.
FOX’s improved Daytona 500 rating completed a Speedweeks “triple play” as the Daytona 500 (+1 percent), Daytona Pole Qualifying (+4 percent), and Budweiser Shootout (+6 percent) all posted gains over the same events in 2007. This is the first time that all of FOX’s Speedweeks programming has boasted a year-to-year increase.
Greenville, SC led all markets with a 24.1 rating followed by Greensboro, NC (22.5), Charlotte (21.1), Orlando (19.7) and Knoxville (19.6). Pittsburgh came in as FOX’s most impressive growth market, up a huge 80 percent (12.8 vs. 7.1) over last year. Many of the biggest growth markets came from outside NASCAR’s traditional southeast US footprint, posting giant year-to-year increases. Those markets were Chicago (+25 percent 7.1 vs. 5.7), Detroit (+25 percent 10.9 vs. 8.7), Denver (+51 percent 10.1 vs. 6.7), Portland (+37 percent 8.2 vs. 6.0), Cincinnati (+30 percent 14.6 vs. 11.2), and Oklahoma City (+55 percent 10.7 vs. 6.9). This report came from the Fox Sports front office. Last year the ratings were pretty strong for the Daytona 500 but from then on they dropped right through the end of the season. It will be interesting to see how the Fontana Cup race TV ratings and what that race draws for an audience.
According to the Speed Channel in its second year of live and exclusive coverage of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona, SPEED delivered a 12 percent ratings increase over 2007, with race coverage scoring a final Nielsen Household Rating of 2.10 (1,512,000 households) compared to last season’s 1.87 (1,307,000 households), making it the second-most watched program in SPEED history.
According to Nielsen Media Research, SPEED was ranked No. 1 among the 69 basic cable networks in Households and Total Viewers during the live Valentine’s Day broadcast of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona. “SPEED recognizes The Gatorade Duel at Daytona as an integral piece of the fabric that makes up Daytona Speedweeks,” said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “And as a network, we never took it for granted that The Duel was a major part of a huge SPEED presence at a very historic weekend of NASCAR competition. Simply having the Duel on SPEED is great … the fact that we delivered significant ratings growth is absolutely awesome.”
This year’s Duel coverage peaked at 2.65 (1,910,000 households), topping last year’s peak of 2.48 (1,728,000 households). The SPEED ratings growth continued a trend that began early in Speedweeks, with the pre-Bud Shootout edition of NASCAR RaceDay scoring a Nielsen Household Rating of 1.53 (1,101,000 households).
On the first Saturday of Daytona coverage, five SPEED programs scored a Nielsen mark of “1” or better. NASCAR RaceDay was up 17 percent from a year ago, the ARCA RE/MAX Series race scored its best ratings in network history, up 16 percent (1.46 vs. 1.26), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice was up 8 percent (1.11 vs. 1.03) and two episodes of NASCAR Live! were up 18 percent and 26 percent respectively. This report came from Speed Channel front office.
Formula One looks set to continue to target new events in new markets, particularly in the Middle and Far East, following reports that its advertising and hospitality division took a hit over the last twelve months.
The UK’s Daily Telegraph reports that CVC - the private equity company which assumed control of the sport’s commercial side in 2006 - reported an after tax loss amounting to $3million from the advertising and hospitality division based on figures for eleven of 18 races staged after the 31 May takeover date.
With countries such as China, Bahrain, Singapore and Abu Dhabi securing spots on the grand prix calendar, demand for Formula One racing in the Middle and Far East remains high, providing a serious boost for both trackside exposure and hospitality.
CVC took control of Formula One’s commercial rights through its Alpha Prema UK offshoot in March 2006 and added the sport’s sponsorship agency and hospitality groups in a $1.7billion second acquisition in April.
Talks over a merger between America’s two open-wheel racing series Champ Car and the IRL are advancing with a deal possible as early as this week. David Higdon, Champ Car World Series spokesman, said discussions are “heating up.”
Fred Nation, a spokesman for the Indy Racing League, told The Associated Press: “There is no deal yet.” He said talks “between the principals from both sides” are continuing and IRL officials remain “optimistic” an agreement can be reached.
Both series have struggled for fans, sponsors and TV ratings of late. Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George founded the IRL in 1995, to compete against the established CART series. CART later went into bankruptcy and was bought by its current owners, Kevin Kalkhoven, Gerald Forsythe and Paul Gentilozzi, all team owners in what is now Champ Car.
We’ve heard all this before. And if and it finally happens it may take several years for Open Wheel Racing in N. America to recover or maybe not at all. One key to recovery for Indy Car racing is to open the door to American drivers who have a strong following on the oval tracks. If it’s still business as usual with offshore drivers coming into the series with their own sponsors then Open Wheel racing will never recover.
Last Friday the shoes began to drop and Speed TV reported that the deal would be completed on Monday, February 25. Then John Wildhack, Executive Vice President, ESPN Programming and Acquisitions made this statement regarding the Open Wheel Unification Announcement. “This is a good day for fans who have long awaited a unification of the two series and we hope it is the beginning of a bright future for open wheel racing.”
If you want to watch the Daytona Supercross By Honda and the Daytona 200 By Honda in leisure and luxury during the upcoming Daytona 200 Week By Honda, Daytona International Speedway has got the package for you.
Motorcycle fans can get unparallel views of the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Friday, March 7 and the historic Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday, March 8 through the Classic Cycle Club hospitality packages.
The Classic Cycle Club Premium Suite Two-Day Admission is available for $295 per person and each package includes:
Classic Cycle Club Premium Suite access with indoor/outdoor seating in the Sprint Tower for both the Daytona Supercross By Honda and the Daytona 200 By Honda.
Infield, Sprint FANZONE and garage access
Food service
Four beer or wine tickets per day (21 and older with valid ID)
Closest circuit television
Preferred parking area (first-come, first parked basis)
Souvenir event program and gift
The Classic Cycle Club is also available in the Daytona 500 Club ($255 for a two-day package, $145 for Daytona Supercross By Honda and $150 for Daytona 200 By Honda) and includes:
Daytona 500 Club access with indoor/outdoor seating
Infield, Sprint FANZONE and garage access
Food service
Four beer or wine tickets per day (21 and older with valid ID)
Closest circuit television
Preferred parking area (first-come, first parked basis)
Souvenir event program and gift
To order any of these hospitality packages, motorcycle fans can call 1-386-947-6475 or visit www.racetickets.com,
Let’s see what’s happening in the world of racing action on TV this weekend. Speed offers Nationwide Practice from Vegas on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Stick with Speed as that channel airs the Sprint Cup Practice at 3 p.m. also from Vegas with Cup Qualifying at 6:30 p.m. on that same cable channel. Saturday’s offerings start at noon on Speed with Nationwide Qualifying from Vegas then Spring Cup Final Practice at 2:30 p.m. with ESPN2 kicking in with the Nationwide race from Glitter Gulch at 4 p.m. Sunday get going at 11 a.m. with Same Day Delay of the FIM SuperBike event from Phillips Island, Australia. NASCAR RaceDay starts at 2 p.m. on Speed while Fox offers the Cup race from Vegas at 3:30 p.m. Speed comes back at 6 p.m. with the AMA SuperX from Indy. (END)
NOTE: INFORMATION FOR THIS COLUMN CAME FROM VARIOUS REFERENCED SOURCES, PRESS RELEASES, NOTES AND OTHER SOURCES.
