Over 16 Million Viewers Tune In for NBC's Coverage of KENTUCKY DERBY

NBC Sports' coverage of American Pharoah's down-to-the-wire victory in Saturday's 141st Kentucky Derby averaged 16.0 million viewers - up 4% from last year (15.3 million for California Chrome's victory), according to final data provided by The Nielsen Company.

Viewership peaked at 17.9 million viewers from 6:30-6:45 p.m. ET when American Pharoah crossed the finish line.

Saturday's Kentucky Derby is the most-watched Saturday afternoon sporting event since NBC's telecast of the AFC Divisional Playoff on Jan. 10, 2015 (Baltimore-New England, 34.0 million viewers).

The Kentucky Derby (6:16-7:02 p.m. ET) posted a 9.6/23 national rating - up 2% from a 9.4/22 last year.
This is the fifth time in seven years (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015) that NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage averaged more than 15 million viewers. From 1991-2008, Kentucky Derby average viewership did not reach 15 million.

Saturday's pre-race coverage, which included the 5 p.m. ET show open narrated by Kentucky's own Ashley Judd averaged 8.8 million viewers - third-highest for a pre-race show since 1992.

NBC Sports Live Extra's live stream of the Kentucky Derby - which required authentication for the first time - delivered 221,000 unique visitors, up 12% from last year (198,000), and the largest-ever Kentucky Derby audience on NBC Sports Live Extra. Coverage included four exclusive camera angles (grandstand, paddock, overhead, and jockey), bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators, and replays and footage from the key "Road to the Kentucky Derby" prep races.
NBCSN's live weekday coverage from Churchill Downs, beginning with Wednesday's Kentucky Derby Draw Show, posted viewership increases each day with an average viewership increase of 32% from Wednesday through Friday.

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