NASCAR has finally stopped the bleeding, at least slightly.
ABC’s Sunday afternoon broadcast of the UAW-Ford 500 was down only 2% from last year, drawing a 4.2 overnight opposite the MLB Division Series and NFL telecasts. The 4.2 marks a 50% increase over the 2.8 overnight for last week’s LifeLock 400, and is the highest overnight for a NASCAR race on ABC this year.
Through five races, ABC is averaging a 3.4 metered market rating. By comparison, NBC averaged a 4.1* metered market rating for 11 NASCAR races in 2006, and FOX averaged a 4.9^ metered market rating for 11 NASCAR races this year.
The UAW-Ford 500 was the eighth highest rated sports program on broadcast television over the weekend, behind NFL games, two college football games, and Football Night in America.
*: The 4.1 metered market average for NASCAR coverage on NBC in 2006 does not include the Daytona 500.
^: The 4.9 metered market average for NASCAR coverage on FOX in 2007 does not include the Daytona 500 or the Autism Speaks 400, which aired on a Monday afternoon.
