TV News: Weekend USA TV Ratings (Update)

Some additional context for the F1 broadcast per ESPN. What’s interesting is the race, on ESPN2, not ABC or ESPN, had more viewers than the Indy Qualifying audience on over-the-air NBC, despite the record speeds:

This weekend’s Monaco GP will air on both free-to-air and cable, with the race airing live on ESPN and being replayed later in the afternoon on ABC.


May 24, 2022 

Highlights

  • Indy 500 Qualifications on NBC saw the biggest jump in TV ratings – a 43.6% increase. However, the percent of viewers that were of prime age (18-49) that sponsors are looking for was a horrible 19%, indicating once again that IndyCar’s fan base is growing old and aging out, something Roger Penske appears unable to improve since buying the series and IMS.
  • The Spanish GP F1 race from Barcelona on ESPN2 was up 7.2%. What is more important is that the percent of viewers that were of prime age (18-49) that sponsors are looking for was an unheard high of 48%, indicating once again that F1’s fan base is growing younger – a major uptick in popularity since liberty media bought F1. This despite a race that broadcast early on a Sunday morning.
  • NASCAR saw an across the board decrease in ratings for its All-Star weekend at Texas Motor Speedway as well as the percent viewers of prime age of only 21-22%

Weekend Ratings

Network Event Location Total Viewers 18-49 Viewers Ratio:
18-49 Yr Old
/Total Viewers
2022 TV Rating 2021 TV Rating %Chg
FS1 NASCAR All-Star Race Fort Worth 2,481,000 545,000 22% 1.38 1.64 -15.9%
FS1 NASCAR All-Star Open Race Fort Worth 1,555,000 332,000 21% 0.91 1.17 -22.2%
ESPN2 F1 Spanish GP Barcelona 1,146,000 546,000 48% 0.59 0.55 +7.2%
NBC Indy 500 Qualifications Indianapolis 915,000 173,000 19% 0.56 0.39 +43.6%
FS1 NASCAR Xfinity Race Fort Worth 692,000 153,000 22% 0.45 0.61 -26.2%
FS1 NASCAR Truck Race Fort Worth 482,000 81,000 17% 0.30 0.40 -25.0%