Formula 1 viewership is trending up as the season draws to a close. In other news, Formula E racing saw a slight increase in viewership on FOX, and NASCAR’s Xfinity Series scored substantial increases for last week’s Texas race.
Formula 1 Viewership Up Entering Penultimate Race
- The Formula 1 season has averaged 535,000 viewers across the NBC family of networks heading into Sunday’s Brazil race, up 14% from the comparable point last year (471K). Nine of the 17 races have had at least 500,000 viewers, including five on NBCSN alone — the network’s highest total since acquiring rights and more than the previous two seasons combined. (NBC Sports Group Press Box)
Formula E Sees Viewership Bump in Return to FOX
- Airing directly after NFL coverage in 72% of the country, Formula E racing from Malaysia drew a 1.0 final rating and 1.6 million viewers on FOX last Sunday — flat in ratings and up 1% in viewership from the same race in the same window last year (1.0, 1.5M). To put the numbers in perspective, the most-watched Formula 1 race in the past seven years had shy of 1.5 million. (via Sports Business Daily)
Big Increases For NASCAR Xfinity From Texas
- NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Texas drew a 1.4 final rating and 2.2 million viewers on NBC last Saturday, up 36% in ratings and viewership from last year (1.1, 1.6M) and up 67% and 59%, respectively, from 2013 (0.9, 1.4M), both of which aired on ESPN. The race ranks as the most-watched Xfinity Series race since Indianapolis on NBC in July (2.29M to 2.21M) and the fifth-most watched of the season overall. (via SBD/Awful Announcing)
