Though well below what ESPN and ESPN2 averaged two years ago, IndyCar viewership rose by double-digits on Versus this season.
Versus averaged 366,000 viewers for 12 IndyCar races this season, up 16% from 11 races on the network last year (315,000), but down 53% from 11 races on ESPN and ESPN2 in 2008 (778,000).
The final race of the season, Saturday’s Caf?s do Brasil Indy 300, earned 360,000 viewers — up 34% from last year (268,000).
To put the numbers in perspective, the 2010 IndyCar season on Versus averaged more viewers than the 2009-10 NHL regular season on the same network (297,000), the 2010 WNBA regular season on ESPN2 (258,000) and the 2010 Major League Soccer regular season on ESPN2 (257,000 through August 17).
ABC averaged 2.696 million viewers for its four-race coverage (a fifth race was postponed due to rain), up 2% from five races last year (2.636 mil).
Of the 14 IndyCar races that can be compared to last year, eight had increases in viewership and six had declines. Comparisons were unavailable for two new races — the S?o Paulo Indy 300 and the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama — as well as the rained-out Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Viewership For IndyCar Races in 2010 (with comparisons to 2009)
Excludes Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which was postponed due to rain
Source: Sports Business Daily
(Sports Business Daily)
