Airing live on two networks, IndyCar scored its best cable audience in eight years.
IndyCar Series racing from Mid-Ohio earned a combined 929,000 viewers on NBCSN and CNBC Sunday afternoon, up 40% from last year (666K), up 141% from 2014 (386K), and the largest IndyCar audience on cable since the 2008 Richmond race on ESPN (947K). NBCSN alone scored 811,000 viewers, trailing last year’s Sonoma final (841K) as its most-watched race since acquiring rights.
Sunday’s race, which peaked at 1.3 million viewers from 3-3:15 PM ET, was initially set to air live on CNBC and tape delayed on NBCSN. When NBCSN’s scheduled NASCAR race was postponed due to rain, it was able to join CNBC in airing the IndyCar race live.
Despite the stronger numbers, IndyCar’s combined audience still trailed competing coverage of the NHRA on FOX, which had 998,000 viewers.
NBC Sports is now averaging 505,000 viewers for IndyCar coverage this season, up 28% from last year (394K).
(Sun. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box; ShowBuzz Daily, Sports TV Ratings)
