Averaging 15.3 million viewers, NBC Sports’ coverage of the 140th Kentucky Derby
marked the fourth time in six years (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014) that NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage
averaged more than 15 million viewers. Viewership increased 3% from 2012 (14.8 million for I’ll Have
Another’s victory) – the last time the Kentucky Derby faced head-to-head competition from the NBA
Playoffs. NBC’s 9.4/22 household rating for the Kentucky Derby ranks as the best Saturday rating on any
network since the 2014 Sochi Olympics on NBC (9.6/17 on February 15th ). Louisville, the home of the
Kentucky Derby, topped the metered markets with a 37.8 rating/66 share ahead of Ft. Myers (21.3/40) and West Palm Beach (17.8/31). Fans live streamed a record 4.38 million minutes of the Kentucky Derby on NBC Sports Live Extra — the NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – a 59% increase over last year for coverage which included four exclusive camera angles (grandstand, paddock, overhead, jockey), bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators, and replays and footage from key “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep races.
This article was republished with permission from Karl-Heinz Huba, the editor and publisher of the Sport Intern.