Race Draws Over 1 Million Viewers Despite Blackouts in Midwest Due to Severe Weather
F1 on NBC Averaging 1.152 Million Viewers for First Three Races, Up 11% vs. 2012
STAMFORD, Conn. – November 21, 2013 – NBC Sports’ live broadcast of the United States Grand Prix on Sunday drew 1.010 million viewers, up 47% vs. last year on SPEED (688,000), according to final national data provided today by The Nielsen Company. The rating was achieved despite blackouts due to news preemptions for severe weather in the Midwest, including the Chicago and Indianapolis markets.
The U.S. Grand Prix (1:56-3:49 p.m. ET) from Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, scored a 0.65 household rating according to final national data, up 67% vs. last year’s race on SPEED (0.39). Sunday’s race, in which four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) won for his eighth consecutive victory, also surpassed NBC’s coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix (950,000) in June by 6%.
Among Adults 18-49 (387,000), the U.S. Grand Prix was the second-most watched race of the season on NBC behind the Monaco Grand Prix (441,000). NBC tallied double-digit increases vs. SPEED’s telecast last year among Adults 18-49 (+45%) and Adults 25-54 (+39%).
Viewership for the race peaked in the 2:45-3 p.m. ET quarter-hour with 1.233 million viewers. Austin led the nation with a 6.88 rating for the race. Following are the top 5 markets:
- Austin – 6.88
- Greensboro – 1.90
- San Diego – 1.69
- Columbus, OH – 1.66
- Orlando-Daytona – 1.60
For its three F1 races so far this season, NBC is averaging 1.152 million viewers, up 11% compared to FOX’s four-race F1 race average last year (1.038 million).
The F1 season concludes this weekend with the Brazilian Grand Prix, which will air live on NBC at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, November 24. For more highlights from Sunday’s coverage of the U.S. Grand Prix on NBC, click here: http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2013/11/17/formula-one-united-states-grand-prix-notes-quotes/
--NBC SPORTS GROUP--