NBC Ratings for Derby Preps Up Slightly

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Overnight ratings for NBC's coverage of major Triple Crown prep races Saturday, April 12, showed a slight increase in viewership over last year's numbers. The network reported that its 90-minute program, which ran from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Eastern time and featured live coverage of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park, received a 1.5 overnight rating, up from 1.4 in 2002.

Overnight ratings measure 55 big-city markets across the country, and each point in the overnights represents 735,000 viewers. The racing telecast, which also feature taped coverage of Aqueduct's Wood Memorial, was up against stiff competition from the Masters golf tournament on CBS, which garnered a 6.2 overnight rating, and Stanley Cup playoff hockey on ABC, which registered a 1.6.

Among the top markets for the racing program were Las Vegas, with a 3.4 overnight, San Antonio (3.2), Jacksonville (3.0), Detroit (2.9), Louisville (2.7), Colorado Springs (2.6) and New York City (2.0).

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