NASCAR Xfinity Series ratings dropped again last weekend. In other news, Formula 1 viewership sank on ESPN2, NHRA eliminations increased for the first time all season, and it was a down week for the Premier League.
NASCAR Xfinity Hits High, But Down Again
Last Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race from Talladega earned a 1.2 rating and 1.90 million viewers on FOX, down a tick in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (1.3, 2.00M) and down 37% and 36% respectively from 2016 (1.9, 2.9M). It was the most-watched Xfinity Series race all season, topping Daytona in February (1.85M). Even so, it continued a downward trend for NASCAR’s secondary series. All eight races (excluding a rainout at Phoenix) have declined from last year.
F1 Slips on ESPN2
Last Sunday’s Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix had a 0.34 rating and 536,000 viewers on ESPN2, down 11% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (0.38, 536K) and down 6% in both measures from 2016 (0.36, 569K). The race took place in the summer in those years.
NHRA Eliminations Post First Increase of Season
Taped NHRA eliminations from Charlotte delivered a 0.33 rating and 541,000 viewers on FS1 last Sunday, flat in ratings but up 2% in viewership from last year (0.33, 530K) and up 3% and 14% respectively from 2016 (0.32, 475K). It was the first time all season that NHRA eliminations increased over last year.
Down Week For EPL
Last Saturday’s Chelsea-Swansea English Premier League match had a 0.48 rating and 672,000 viewers on the NBC broadcast network, down 2% in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (Swansea-Everton: 0.49, 709K) and down 19% and 20% respectively from 2016 (Arsenal-Norwich: 0.59, 842K).
Shifting to NBCSN, Arsenal-Manchester United had a 0.40 (-15%) and 646,000 (-16%) Sunday morning. Manchester City-West Ham had a 0.23 (-8%) and 338,000 (-6%) earlier in the day.
The previous morning, Southampton-Bournemouth scored 261,000 (-16%) and Liverpool-Stoke 249,000 (-18%).
