XPost: rec.autos.sport.nascar
In the battle of TV ratings, NASCAR's Daytona 500 laps Indy 500
NASCAR's flagship race almost doubles Indy 500 in TV viewers
TV ratings are not everything, but when it comes to viewers, there is no contest between the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.
Despite record attendance, the historical significance of Sunday's 100th running of the Indy 500 and the lifting of a decades-long local blackout,
the race garnered just a 3.8 rating, averaging 5,859,785 viewers, according
to Nielsen Fast Nationals data.
Those numbers are actually down from last year, when the Indy 500 grabbed a
4.1 rating and 6.4 million viewers.
The 2016 Daytona 500, on the other hand, earned a 6.6 rating with 11.4
million viewers.
This year's race was the second lowest-rated Daytona 500 in history,
following only the 2014 race, which was hampered by rain and competed for viewers with the Olympics. Regardless, it still outdrew the 100th running of the Indy 500 by almost double.
Both races are nationally televised, with the Daytona 500 airing on Fox and
ABC being TV home to the Indy 500.
NASCAR tends to do better on TV than IndyCar in general. However, one reason for the huge discrepancy in viewers for the two biggest races might be
timing.
The Daytona 500 historically takes place at the end of February, when much
of America is inside, staying out of the cold. Conversely, the Indy 500
takes place over Memorial Day weekend, when many Americans are either
traveling or spending time outdoors.
Read more:
http://autoweek.com/article/nascar-sprint-cup/battle-tv-ratings-nascars-daytona-500-laps-indy-500#ixzz4ALx1X1dV
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