2010 IndyCar TV Ratings up but still dismal
UPDATE To put the numbers in perspective, the 2010 IndyCar season on Versus averaged more viewers than the 2009-10 NHL regular season on the same network (297,000), the 2010 WNBA regular season on ESPN2 (258,000) and the 2010 Major League Soccer regular season on ESPN2 (257,000 through August 17). In other words all sport events on Versus have horrible TV ratings. IndyCar could stay on Versus and collect the money, or just order the flowers now and plan the funeral. 
10/07/10 The 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series' second season on Versus averaged 366,000 viewers for 12 telecasts, an increase of 16.2% from 315,000 viewers last year, but still a long way from the 778,000 viewers that ESPN/ESPN2 averaged in '08 for 11 races. With 366,000 per telecast (infomercial levels) how does a team justify the return on investment to a sponsor? How many years will it take for the IRL to get back to the 778,000 viewers they had with ESPN. 5 Years? 10 Years? Can IndyCar wait that long.
|
DATE
|
RACE
|
VENUE
|
NET
|
VIEWERS (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3/14
|
Sao Paulo Indy 300
|
Streets of São Paulo
|
Versus
|
411
|
|
3/29
|
Honda Grand Prix of
St. Petersburg* |
Streets of St. Petersburg
|
ESPN2
|
n/a
|
|
4/11
|
Indy Grand Prix of Alabama | Barber Motorsports Park |
Versus
|
310
|
|
4/18
|
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach | Streets of Long Beach |
Versus
|
490
|
|
5/1
|
Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 | Kansas Speedway |
ABC
|
969
|
|
5/30
|
Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
ABC
|
5,793
|
|
6/5
|
Firestone 550k | Texas Motor Speedway |
Versus
|
518
|
|
6/20
|
Iowa Corn Indy 250 | Iowa Speedway |
Versus
|
400
|
|
7/4
|
Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen | Watkins Glen Int'l |
ABC
|
1,085
|
|
7/18
|
Honda Indy Toronto | Streets of Toronto |
ABC
|
1,348
|
|
7/25
|
Honda Indy Edmonton | Edmonton City Centre Airport |
Versus
|
322
|
|
8/8
|
Honda Indy 200 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
Versus
|
344
|
|
8/22
|
Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County | Infineon Raceway |
Versus
|
386
|
|
8/28
|
Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 | Chicagoland Speedway |
Versus
|
375
|
|
9/4
|
Kentucky 300 | Kentucky Speedway |
Versus
|
251
|
|
9/19
|
Indy Japan 300 | Twin Ring Motegi |
Versus
|
181
|
|
10/2
|
Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 | Homestead-Miami Speedway |
Versus
|
360
|
NOTE: * = race was scheduled for ABC, but was rained out on Sunday and run on the following Monday on ESPN2. Data by SportsBusiness Daily