The Rio Paralympics opened with increased viewership on NBCSN. In other news, FOX posted gains for the NHRA U.S. Nationals on Labor Day, and IndyCar’s last-minute race at Watkins Glen was a middle-of-the-road draw.
Paralympics Opening Ceremony Up More Than 70%
- The Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Rio Paralympics earned 135,000 viewers on NBCSN Wednesday night, up 73% from Sochi in 2014, when coverage began on a Friday morning (78K). NBCSN did not air the Opening Ceremony in 2012. The telecast was the most-watched program of the day on NBCSN. (via Sports TV Ratings)
NHRA U.S. Nationals Up in FOX Debut
- The NHRA U.S. Nationals from Indianapolis had a 0.7 final rating and 1.0 million viewers on FOX Monday afternoon, up a tick in ratings and 17% in viewership from coverage on ESPN last year (0.6, 935K) and up 75% and 65%, respectively, from live coverage on ESPN2 in 2014 (0.4, 635K), both of which were tape-delayed. The telecast was the highest rated and most-watched of the four NHRA windows on FOX this year, though it was not the top draw of the season. Fox Sports 1 posted larger audiences for three events this season, each of which had a direct lead-in from NASCAR. (Fox Sports)
IndyCar Watkins Glen Viewership Middle of the Pack
- IndyCar Series racing from Watkins Glen (NY) earned 440,000 viewers on NBCSN Sunday afternoon, ranking fourth out of the network’s nine races this season (excluding rainouts). It had a 0.3 final rating. IndyCar added Watkins Glen to the schedule after its originally planned race at Boston fell through. The last time IndyCar raced at The Glen, 2010, coverage drew a 0.8 and 1.1 million on ABC. (via ShowBuzz Daily)
