Viewership has increased substantially for Formula 1 coverage on NBCSN. In other news, the PGA Houston Open scored a pair of increases last weekend, and another waterlogged weekend in NASCAR generated okay numbers on FOX and ESPN.
F1 Off to Best Start Since 2004
- Through three races, NBCSN has averaged 364,000 viewers for Formula 1 coverage — up 206% from last year (119K), up 46% from 2012 on Speed Channel (250K), and the highest average at this point of the season since 2004 (382K). Sunday’s race from Bahrain earned 594,000 viewers, the network’s largest F1 audience since it began airing races last year. (NBC Sports Group Press Box via Sports Business Daily)
Double-Digit Increases For PGA Houston Open
- Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Houston Open earned a 1.9 final rating and 2.7 million viewers on NBC last Sunday, up 46% in ratings and 45% in viewership from last year, when coverage aired opposite the NCAA Tournament (1.3, 1.9M). On Saturday, third round action drew a 1.4 and 1.9 million — up 17% in both measures (1.2, 1.6M). (Weekend numbers from SBD)
NASCAR Rainout Decent Enough on FOX
- Rainout coverage of last week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race from Texas earned a 2.4 final rating and 3.8 million viewers on FOX. The race was postponed to Monday. Last Friday night, the Texas Nationwide Series race drew a 1.0 and 1.5 million on ESPN, flat in ratings and viewership compared to last year, and flat and down 11%, respectively, from 2012 (1.0, 1.6M). (ESPN, SBD)
