2015 VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES is Most-Watched Yet on NBCSN
By: Tyler Peterson Sep. 02, 2015
NBCSN's presentation of the 2015 Verizon INDYCAR Series averaged 507,000 viewers, making it the most-watched INDYCAR season on NBCSN since INDYCAR rights were acquired in 2009. NBCSN's 2015 INDYCAR coverage (11 races) was up 34% from the network's average viewership for the 2014 season (378,000, 12 races), and up 26% vs. the previous record (402,000 in 2011), according to data provided by The Nielsen Company.
NBCSN's record INDYCAR viewership was highlighted by significant gains in the second half of the season, capped by Sunday's season finale at Sonoma. The race (5:00-7:25 p.m. ET) averaged 841,000 viewers to become the most-watched INDYCAR race on NBCSN since rights were acquired in 2009, and the most-watched INDYCAR race on cable in seven years (ESPN, 2008 at Richmond). Viewership of Sunday's race peaked in final full quarter hour (7:00-7:15 p.m. ET), as more than 1 million viewers (1.048 million) watched the thrilling conclusion to the 2015 campaign.
"The terrific growth of INDYCAR on NBCSN in 2015 is a reflection of strategic scheduling, great competition and excellent production, as well as the overall strength of NBCSN increasing audiences across our many great properties," said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBCSN.
Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi) won Sunday's finale at Sonoma and took the 2015 Championship in dramatic fashion, earning his fourth career INDYCAR title on a points tiebreaker over Juan Pablo Montoya(Team Penske).
Following are additional viewership highlights from NBCSN's coverage of the 2015 Verizon INDYCAR Series:
- NBCSN's 2015 INDYCAR coverage reached 6.409 million unique viewers, the highest total audience on the network since INDYCAR rights were acquired in 2009, up 47% from the total audience in 2014 (4.350 million viewers), and up 34% vs. the previous record (4.789 million in 2011);
- The final six races of the season on NBCSN eclipsed 500,000 viewers,more than the past six seasons on NBCSN combined (five);
- The final three races of the season on NBCSN (Mid-Ohio, Pocono and Sonoma) eclipsed 600,000 viewers. These are the only races on NBCSN other than the Edmonton race in 2011 (642,000) to surpass 600,000 average viewers;
- In addition to delivering the highest average viewership in the network's history, INDYCAR on NBCSN saw increases across key demographics - up 32% among Adults 18-49, and up 24% among Adults 25-54 vs. 2014.
- Over 11 races on NBCSN, the 2015 INDYCAR season produced a 0.34 HH rating, up 36% vs. last year's rating (0.25, 12 races)
- Sunday's finale at Sonoma produced a 0.53 HH rating, up 104% vs. the 2014 race (0.26).
The following is a table of the final six INDYCAR races of the 2015 season on NBCSN:
| Date | Race | 2015 Viewership | 2014 Viewership | % Change |
| Sat., June 27 | Fontana | 512,000 | 280,000 | +83% |
| Sun., July 12 | Milwaukee | 532,000 | 320,000 | +66% |
| Sat., July 18 | Iowa | 542,000 | 444,000 | +22% |
| Sun., August 2 | Mid-Ohio** | 666,000 | 386,000 | +73% |
| Sun., August 23 | Pocono | 635,000 | 342,000 | +86% |
| Sun., August 30 | Sonoma* | 841,000* | 377,000 | +123% |
*most-watched INDYCAR race on NBCSN since rights acquisition in 2009
**denotes same-day replay; the race aired live earlier that day on CNBC
Comments
Videos