The highlight of a packed sports weekend, at least in the ratings, the Kentucky Derby hit a 23-year high on NBC.
The race portion of the Kentucky Derby earned a 10.8 overnight rating on NBC Saturday evening, up 7% from last year (10.1), up 4% from 2013 (10.4), and the highest overnight for the event since 1992 (10.9). The previous high over that span was the 10.4 in 2013.
The four highest Kentucky Derby overnights since 1992 have taken place in the past seven years. The event has now topped a 10.0 overnight seven times dating back to 2004, after failing to hit that mark each year from 1993 to 2003.
Louisville was the top market for Saturday’s telecast with a 35.0 rating, but that was down 7% from last year (37.8) and down 20% from 2013 (43.7). Ft. Myers, FL (19.7), Cincinnati (17.7), West Palm Beach, FL (16.8) and Dayton (15.8) rounded out the top five.
(Sat. numbers from NBC Sports)
