TV Ratings up for Rolex 24
Buoyed by FOX Sports lead-off broadcast, the Jan. 27, 2:30-6 pm, ET coverage window became the most-watched singular Rolex 24 At Daytona telecast in SPEED history. The network also enjoyed a three-day average increase of 28 percent over last year, as 458,000 viewers tuned into the telecast versus 359,000 in 2006.
“Our partnership with FOX on their inaugural coverage of the Rolex Sports Car Series has paid tremendous dividends," said Paul Duong, SPEED Vice President of Scheduling & Research.
Numbers also increased significantly within key demographics, as Men 18-49 grew 72 percent and Men 18-34 rose 19 percent. The broadcast was also the most-watched Rolex 24 At Daytona on SPEED in the seven-year history of the Grand-Am Rolex Series.
“It’s nice to see our key demos driving the overall growth," Duong continued. “Those numbers were critical toward our reaching these record ratings.
“Also important to the network is that the median household income of those watching the Rolex Series on SPEED was $67,000 a year, and those Men 18-49, its $70,000. These numbers are well above what we normally get for our programming."
“The 2007 Rolex 24 At Daytona marked the beginning of a new, eight-year partnership between Grand-Am and SPEED, and I couldn’t think of a better way to kick things off," said Grand-Am President Roger Edmondson. “Through our own efforts and the diligent and hard work of SPEED in every department, we have been able to grow Grand-Am racing steadily over the past few years. Not only do I see this continuing in the future, but I believe this year’s Rolex 24 may be the catalyst for even faster growth."