15.3 Million Watch NBC's Derby Coverage

Description: 
NBC Sports' coverage of the 140th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 3 averaged 15.3 million viewers, according to fast national data provided today by The Nielsen Company. 
 
California Chrome's victory in Saturday's race (6:06-6:52 p.m. ET) marks the fourth time in six years (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014) that NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage averaged more than 15 million viewers. From 1991-2008, Kentucky Derby average viewership did not reach 15 million.
 
—Viewership increased 3% from 2012 (14.8 million for I'll Have Another  's victory)--the last time the Kentucky Derby faced head-to-head competition from the NBA Playoffs.
 
—NBC's 9.4/22 household rating for the Kentucky Derby ranks as the best Saturday rating on any network since the 2014 Sochi Olympics on NBC (9.6/17 on Feb. 15).
 
—Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby, topped the metered markets with a 37.8 rating/66 share (top 20 markets listed below).
 
Fans live-streamed a record 4.38 million minutes of the Kentucky Derby on NBC Sports Live Extra—the NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets—a 59% increase over last year for coverage which included four exclusive camera angles (grandstand, paddock, overhead, jockey), bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators, and replays and footage from key "Road to the Kentucky Derby" prep races.

 

KENTUCKY DERBY VIEWERSHIP
2014 15.3 million NBC California Chrome
2013 16.2 million NBC Orb
2012 14.8 million NBC I’ll Have Another
2011 14.5 million NBC Animal Kingom
2010 16.5 million NBC Super Saver
2009 16.1 million NBC Mine That Bird
2008 14.2 million NBC Big Brown
2007 13.7 million NBC Street Sense
2006 12.9 million NBC Barbaro
2005 13.6 million NBC Giacomo
2004 14.6 million NBC Smarty Jones
2003 11.8 million NBC Funny Cide
2002 12.8 million NBC War Emblem
2001 13.5 million NBC Monarchos
2000 9.1 million ABC Fusaichi Pegasus
1999 9.9 million ABC Charismatic
1998 9.5 million ABC Real Quiet
1997 11.3 million ABC Silver Charm
1996 11.0 million ABC Grindestone
1995  9.3 million ABC Thunder Gulch
1994 12.1 million ABC Go For Gin
1993 11.5 million ABC Sea Hero
1992 13.7 million ABC Lil E Tee
1991 13.4 million ABC Strike The Gold
1990 15.6 million ABC Unbridled
1989 18.5 million ABC Sunday Silence

 

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2014 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)

1 Louisville 37.8/66
2 Ft. Myers 21.3/40
3 West Palm Beach 17.8/31
4 Buffalo 16.8/32
5 Cincinnati 16.7/35
6 Boston 15.5/35
7 Columbus 14.4/31
8 Orlando 14.3/26
T9. Tampa-St. Pete 13.6/25
T9. Indianapolis 13.6/28
11 Knoxville 13.5/26
12 Minneapolis 13.1/33
13 Hartford 13.0/27
T14. Baltimore 12.9/27
T14. Providence 12.9/25
T14. Dayton 12.9/26
17 Milwaukee 12.4/29
T18. Washington, DC 12.2/28
T18. Richmond 12.2/24
T18. Tulsa 12.2/24

 

PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 17: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome will take one more step to try to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 36 years, since Affirmed in 1978. NBC Sports Group coverage of The Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins Friday, May 16 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.  NBC presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m. ET with coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Date Time Event Network
Fri., May 16 3 p.m. Preakness Classics NBCSN
Fri., May 16 4 p.m. Black Eyed Susan Stakes NBCSN
Sat., May 17 1 p.m. Preakness Saturday NBCSN
Sat., May 17 4:30 p.m. Preakness Stakes NBC
Sat., May 17 6:30 p.m. Preakness Post-Race Show NBCSN