It is still early, but NASCAR’s latest retool has yet to turn around its flagging ratings.
NASCAR Cup Series racing from Las Vegas earned a 3.6 final rating and 6.0 million viewers on FOX last Sunday, down 18% in ratings and 17% in viewership from last year (4.4, 7.2M) and down 22% and 23% respectively from 2015 (4.6, 7.7M).
The 3.6 rating is the lowest in the history of the race (dates back to 1998), falling below the previous mark of 4.0 on ABC in 2000. Within the past decade, ratings were as high as 5.9 (2011), 6.5 (2009) and even 7.1 (2008).
In addition to the record-low rating, viewership for the race was the lowest since at least 2001 (viewership prior to 2002 was not available), falling below the previous mark of 7.2 million in 2010. This year’s audience was less than half of the 12.1 million who watched nine years ago.
Sunday’s race was still the highest rated and most-watched sporting event of the weekend, topping a record-low NCAA Tournament Selection Show (3.0, 4.9M).
NASCAR on FOX is now averaging a 4.7 rating and 8.3 million viewers through three races, down 8% in ratings and 3% in viewership from last year (5.1, 8.5M). The season has already included the lowest rated post-Daytona race since at least 1998 (Atlanta) and the second-lowest rated Daytona 500.
Though down overall, NASCAR on FOX is actually up 17% among men 18-34 (from 1.2 to 1.4) and flat among men 18-49 (2.4).
(Wknd. numbers from Fox Sports)
