And They’re Off! To NBC, Kentucky Derby TV Ratings Decline Is Reversed
5/6 Update: Hollywood Reporter has the final viewership for this year’s Derby at 14.2 million, up 3% from last year. I have updated the chart and table below.
A long term decline in Kentucky Derby ratings was reversed sharply when NBC took over the broadcast in 2001. While the decline in TV ratings for “championship” sports events is pretty typical, the reversal of such is quite rare. I am way too out of touch with horse racing to know what NBC might have done to reverse the decline, but I’m sure we have alert readers out there who will be happy to share their opinions.
5/5 Update: Commenter Mikey has done just that. NBC splits the race and the pre-race into 2 distinct shows as well as moved the post-time to 6:10 from 5:30, so at least the initial ratings increase in 2001 after they took over can be significantly attributed to that. The slower increase after 2001 is still notable compared with most big sporting events.
Complete Kentucky Derby TV Ratings, 1975-2008:
|
Year |
Viewers |
HH Rating |
Share |
Network |
Winner |
|
1975 |
26.74 |
18.9 |
54 |
ABC |
Foolish Pleasure |
|
1976 |
25.84 |
17.5 |
49 |
ABC |
Bold Forbes |
|
1977 |
20.70 |
14.9 |
48 |
ABC |
Seattle Slew** |
|
1978 |
22.40 |
17.0 |
48 |
ABC |
Affirmed** |
|
1979 |
20.82 |
16.0 |
49 |
ABC |
Spectacular Bid |
|
1980 |
19.27 |
15.4 |
48 |
ABC |
Genuine Risk |
|
1981 |
23.47 |
16.0 |
46 |
ABC |
Pleasant Colony |
|
1982 |
20.26 |
14.1 |
40 |
ABC |
Gato Del Sol |
|
1983 |
19.90 |
14.5 |
37 |
ABC |
Sunny’s Halo |
|
1984 |
16.82 |
12.9 |
36 |
ABC |
Swale |
|
1985 |
12.06 |
10.9 |
32 |
ABC |
Spend a Buck |
|
1986 |
16.95 |
13.6 |
37 |
ABC |
Ferdinand |
|
1987 |
14.39 |
11.6 |
31 |
ABC |
Alysheba |
|
1988 |
|
9.0 |
28 |
ABC |
Winning Colors |
|
1989 |
|
11.6 |
31 |
ABC |
Sunday Silence |
|
1990 |
|
10.1 |
27 |
ABC |
Unbridled |
|
1991 |
11.68 |
8.3 |
24 |
ABC |
Strike The Gold |
|
1992 |
11.61 |
8.9 |
26 |
ABC |
Lil E. Tee |
|
1993 |
9.64 |
7.3 |
22 |
ABC |
Sea Hero |
|
1994 |
10.58 |
7.5 |
21 |
ABC |
Go For Gin |
|
1995 |
8.13 |
6.0 |
17 |
ABC |
Thunder Gulch |
|
1996 |
9.77 |
7.4 |
21 |
ABC |
Grindstone |
|
1997 |
10.07 |
7.1 |
19 |
ABC |
Silver Charm |
|
1998 |
8.26 |
6.1 |
18 |
ABC |
Real Quiet |
|
1999 |
8.70 |
6.3 |
19 |
ABC |
Charismatic |
|
2000 |
7.93 |
5.8 |
17 |
ABC |
Fusiachi Pegasus |
|
2001 |
13.48 |
9.3 |
24 |
NBC |
Monarchos |
|
2002 |
12.82 |
8.3 |
21 |
NBC |
War Emblem |
|
2003 |
11.76 |
7.6 |
20 |
NBC |
Funny Cide |
|
2004 |
14.57 |
9.3 |
22 |
NBC |
Smarty Jones |
|
2005 |
13.58 |
9.0 |
22 |
NBC |
Giacomo |
|
2006 |
12.89 |
8.4 |
20 |
NBC |
Barbaro |
|
2007 |
13.75 |
8.8 |
21 |
NBC |
Street Sense |
|
2008 |
14.30 |
|
|
NBC |
Big Brown |
**Triple Crown winner
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
My only guess is that NBC had the NBA playoffs in 2001. They might have heavily promoted it during the games.
My only guess is that NBC had the NBA playoffs in 2001. They might have heavily promoted it during the games.
NBC is airing an NHL playoff game at 1pm et on Saturday. The Derby coverage is scheduled to begin at 4pm.
Anyone know what would happen if the NHL game goes to overtime? I hope there will not be the same debacle as last year when they moved the overtime to cable so NBC could show the 2 hour pre-race show?
NBC is airing an NHL playoff game at 1pm et on Saturday. The Derby coverage is scheduled to begin at 4pm.
Anyone know what would happen if the NHL game goes to overtime? I hope there will not be the same debacle as last year when they moved the overtime to cable so NBC could show the 2 hour pre-race show?
Horse racing gets SO little network coverage anymore its amazing the Derby is getting the ratings it does. Unless one has satellite, you are out for the count of many prep races. Racing is fun IF you get to follow the horses up to an event. This year was the least I can remember so it will be interesting to see the ratings. ESPN has taken over the Breeders’ Cup and while their coverage is OK, the technical end of things have had many snafus of late. I believe that the horseracing channels and ESPN have to sign off during the big race coverage so viewers migrate. That probably also helps.
Horse racing gets SO little network coverage anymore its amazing the Derby is getting the ratings it does. Unless one has satellite, you are out for the count of many prep races. Racing is fun IF you get to follow the horses up to an event. This year was the least I can remember so it will be interesting to see the ratings. ESPN has taken over the Breeders' Cup and while their coverage is OK, the technical end of things have had many snafus of late. I believe that the horseracing channels and ESPN have to sign off during the big race coverage so viewers migrate. That probably also helps.
Big Brown has some decent hype this year so that should help ratings. I love watching the kentucky derby. problem is I only watch the race, not the entire telecast. I wonder how viewership spikes during the actual race time.
Note: neilson doesn’t count viewers at bars (or otbs) so sports ratings are always under reported.
Big Brown has some decent hype this year so that should help ratings. I love watching the kentucky derby. problem is I only watch the race, not the entire telecast. I wonder how viewership spikes during the actual race time.
Note: neilson doesn't count viewers at bars (or otbs) so sports ratings are always under reported.
Dave, fair point though I doubt that people flock to the bars for the Derby as they do for Football or NCAA games. Still, it’s well documented that they don’t count those viewers, however they ARE testing out of home viewing for live events. they did some tests during the NCAA BBall tourney and it added about 1 ratings point.
Dave, fair point though I doubt that people flock to the bars for the Derby as they do for Football or NCAA games. Still, it's well documented that they don't count those viewers, however they ARE testing out of home viewing for live events. they did some tests during the NCAA BBall tourney and it added about 1 ratings point.
I AM SO SAD TO SEE WHAT YOUR DOING TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY. THOSE OF US WHO ENJOY THE RACE FIND THE ENTIRE BILL BUSH THING AWASTE OF TIME.
I AM SO SAD TO SEE WHAT YOUR DOING TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY. THOSE OF US WHO ENJOY THE RACE FIND THE ENTIRE BILL BUSH THING AWASTE OF TIME.
Wasn’t Eight Belle’s Unbridaled’s daughter? Explains the lineage. Poor horse had some very speedy genes.
Anyways. I wonder if the uptick is as simple as there being a slightly different viewing audience on another network?
Wasn't Eight Belle's Unbridaled's daughter? Explains the lineage. Poor horse had some very speedy genes.
Anyways. I wonder if the uptick is as simple as there being a slightly different viewing audience on another network?
Where was the sound technician during the race? That microphone in the crowd during the race was so noisy we could not tell what the announcer or the man calling the race was saying.
Who ever was in charge of that, should be given a new responsibility for the Preakness. Put him or her in charge of the shovel following behind the horses.
That was the worst TV coverage of a Triple Crown race that I have seen, and I have watched regularly since 1955. Give the races back to ABC if NBC can’t do a better job than this.
Where was the sound technician during the race? That microphone in the crowd during the race was so noisy we could not tell what the announcer or the man calling the race was saying.
Who ever was in charge of that, should be given a new responsibility for the Preakness. Put him or her in charge of the shovel following behind the horses.
That was the worst TV coverage of a Triple Crown race that I have seen, and I have watched regularly since 1955. Give the races back to ABC if NBC can't do a better job than this.
NBC moved the post time of the race from roughly 5:30 to about 6:10. Made all the difference.
NBC moved the post time of the race from roughly 5:30 to about 6:10. Made all the difference.
Oh. Also, the ratings that Nielsen has provided you are misleading.
The ABC ratings include the entire pre-race.
The NBC ratings do not. They split their pre-race into two program titles and you are only seeing the second, higher-rated portion of the show.
NBC has increased Derby ratings but not by as much as this chart indicates.
Oh. Also, the ratings that Nielsen has provided you are misleading.
The ABC ratings include the entire pre-race.
The NBC ratings do not. They split their pre-race into two program titles and you are only seeing the second, higher-rated portion of the show.
NBC has increased Derby ratings but not by as much as this chart indicates.
I “watched” the Derby this year, in that I had the TV on while I was definitely not watching and working on remodeling my house.
I “watched” the Derby this year, in that I had the TV on while I was definitely not watching and working on remodeling my house.