IndyCar St. Petersburg TV rating (3rd Update)

UPDATE #3 Note the noose around IndyCar's neck numbers vs. the ABC numbers for recent opening IndyCar race numbers. This year's race went head-to-head with both the NASCAR Sprint Cup race and NCAA Elite 8 telecasts.

04/04/14 The final TV number indicates that 123% more viewers watched the IndyCar season opener this year than last, when it was on NBC Sports Network (the noose around IndyCar's neck). That is a great increase, however, the fact that the number of viewers this year on ABC are down 28% since two years ago when the race was on ABC indicates that the number of IndyCar fans continue to decrease at an alarming rate because there is no compelling human interest reason to watch.

And the next two races are on NBCSN, where IndyCar will remain essentially invisible. Long Beach is the 2nd biggest race on the schedule, and the 2nd most important race of the year when it comes to IndyCar's popularity. It is America's 'Monaco GP.' Yet where does the Hulman George family broadcast it? On NBCSN (there may be more fans in attendance than will see it on TV), while the GP of Indianapolis will be on ABC where they will be lucky to have 35,000 people in the massive grandstands. Why? Because the Hulman George family owns the Indy Speedway and it will be a cold day in hell before they put one of their own races on NBCSN where hardly anyone will see it. That sends a strong message to the other race promoters and cities hosting events now doesn't it?

04/03/14 Sunday’s IndyCar Series opener from St. Petersburg earned a 0.6 final rating and 866,000 viewers on ABC, up 100% in ratings and 123% in viewership from last year’s race on NBCSN (0.3, 388K), but down 33% and 32%, respectively, from 2012 — the last time it aired on ABC (0.9, 1.2M). The race is tied as the lowest rated IndyCar telecast on ABC since August 2012 (0.5).

04/01/14 ABC aired the Verizon IndyCar Series season opener Sunday afternoon, drawing a 0.6 overnight for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Last year’s season-opener aired on NBCSN. ABC in ’12 drew a 1.1 overnight for the season opener, which also aired during Elite Eight weekend. So IndyCar has lost about 50% of its viewers in two years due to 1) Too few American drivers as the two top teams continue to hire foreign drivers in an effort to ensure the series cannot grow, 2) Being invisible on TV except for the ABC races last year – that's 9 months of being invisible, 3) Spec cars, 4) Turbo V6 engines that don't scream – zero wow factor, 5) Series is based on a welfare system