Derby Most-Watched Sporting Event Since Super Bowl

NBC Sports' presentation of the rescheduled 146th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) Sept. 5 ranked as the most-watched sporting event since Super Bowl LIV in February and the most-watched sporting event on Labor Day weekend since 2017, based on fast national data from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

The Triple Crown race averaged a preliminary total audience delivery of 8.4 million viewers across NBC and NBC Sports Digital. The TAD numbers aim to count views on linear broadcast and cable channels as well as mobile, tablets, and connected TVs. It also measures viewership across broadcast and cable TV, as well as social and digital media with the goal of delivering advertisers a single viewer.

In addition, 9.8 million viewers watched on NBC as Authentic crossed the finish line 1 1/4 lengths ahead of favorite Tiz the Law at Churchill Downs.

The Derby received 8.3 million viewers on NBC (TV-only), 20% more than most-watched sporting event on last year's Labor Day weekend, the Oregon-Auburn college football game on ABC Aug. 31, 2019, which had 6.9 million viewers. Aired from 6:37-7:23 p.m. ET, the race delivered a 4.8/14 fast national rating.

NBC Sports Digital delivered an average minute audience of 132,800 viewers for Saturday's Derby to rank as NBC Sports' most-streamed horse racing event ever.

The preliminary TAD does not include out-of-home viewership, which is included in official national viewership as of Aug. 31 and will be available later this week. 

Local market ratings for all 56 metered markets will be available Monday afternoon.

The rescheduled Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park coverage June 20 averaged 3.4 million viewers, based on TAD numbers. The race won by Tiz the Law saw a peak of four million viewers during one stage of the program.

NBC will provide coverage of the Preakness Stakes (G1), which concludes the 2020 Triple Crown, Oct. 3 from 4:30-6 p.m.