ABC delivers for IndyCar, TV ratings up

Thanks to better numbers for the Indy 500, ABC had a modest increase in ratings and viewership for the 2014 IndyCar season. And they delivered at least 1 million viewers per race, something NBC Sports Network will never do, not even close, which underscores why we have said all IndyCar races must be moved to ABC. Sponsors don't want to hear that a race attracted 250K viewers.

ABC averaged a 1.6 rating and 2.4 million viewers for five IndyCar Series races this season, up 14% in ratings and viewership from last year (1.4, 2.1M). Excluding the Indy 500, the network averaged a 0.8 and 1.1 million — flat in ratings and up 3% in viewership (1.14M to 1.10M). Neither average includes ABC’s two-day coverage of Indy 500 qualifying.

The increase was primarily due to the Indy 500, which rebounded from last year’s record-low audience to attract 6.2 million viewers.

The final ABC telecasts of the season attracted solid numbers relative to last year. Race 1 of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix drew a 0.9 final rating and 1.4 million viewers on Saturday, up 50% in ratings and 59% in viewership from last year (0.6, 882K). Race 2 on Sunday drew a 0.7 and 1.0 million, flat in both measures.

IndyCar Ratings/Viewership on ABC ThisSeason

Date	Race	Rating	Viewers.
Sun., 3/30	St. Pete	0.6	866K
Sat., 5/10	Indy (Grand Prix)	0.9	1.3M
Sat., 5/17	Indy (Quals)	0.7	1.1M
Sun., 5/18	Indy (Quals)	1.0	1.5M
Sun., 5/25	Indy 500	3.9	6.2M
Sat., 5/31	Detroit (Race 1)	0.9	1.4M
Sun., 6/1	Detroit (Race 2)	0.7	1.0M
	Avg	1.6	2.4M

(Detroit numbers + season avg. from ESPN)