TV News: USA Motorsports weekend TV Ratings

TV Ratings in the USA this past weekend for the NASCAR Cup race in Homestead and the Formula 1 GP in Mexico City at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez circuit

–by Mark Cipolloni–

TV Rating Analysis

NASCAR

NBC got 2.344 million viewers for the NASCAR Cup race in Homestead, up 4% from 2.250 million viewers in 2023. The TV 1.31 Rating was up 0.77% from 1.30 last year. 18-49 year old viewers accounted for just 15% of the TV audience, which was dwarfed by F1 in that all important category.

Formula 1

ABC got 1.4 million viewers (peak 1.6 million) for the Mexico City GP, about even from the 1.46 million in 2023. 18-49 year old viewers accounted for 36% of the TV audience  (503,000 average) – much better than NASCAR and up 7.7% from last year.

It was the 2nd largest Mexico City GP audience on record, just 4% less than the 2023 record of 1.46 million and a solid number given the race was up against NASCAR and the NFL.

Through 20 of 24 races, the 2024 F1 season is averaging 1.12 million viewers per race across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, up over the 2023 F1 full season average (1.1M).

The next race is the Formula 1 Sau Paolo Grand Prix on Sunday, Nov. 3. The race will air on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+ in the United States – coverage starts at 10:30 a.m. ET with Grand Prix Sunday with the race starting at noon.

The Brazil race coverage also will include the return of the “F1 Kids” alternate telecast on ESPNU and two alternate streams on ESPN+ (onboard cameras and track position views).

Some key points from the 2024 season so far:

• Five races this year have set event viewership records (Miami, Monaco, Canada, British and most recently, Italian).
• The Miami Grand Prix in early May, airing on ABC, set the all-time U.S. television F1 record for a live telecast with 3.1 million average viewers.
• During one point in the season, five consecutive races had year-over-year viewership gains: Japan, Miami, Monaco, Canada and Spain. (China and Imola were not run in 2023).
• Nine races this season have seen year-over-year viewership gains over 2023 (Japan, Miami, Monaco, Canada, Spain, British, Hungary, Dutch, Italian).

Remaining Races – 2024 Formula 1 World Championship Calendar

* all race day coverage also includes Grand Prix Sunday pre-race show. ESPN platforms also carry live coverage of all practice and qualifying sessions as well as F1 Sprint races and other pre and post-race programs.

TV Rating Data