Ratings for Derby on NBC Up 12% From Last Year

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Edited press release

NBC Sports’ coverage of the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (5-6:45 p.m. Eastern time) recorded an 8.3 overnight rating and 18 share, up 12% from last year and equal to the highest overnight rating for the broadcast since 1992 (8.3 on NBC in 2001, 2002,and 2004), according to overnight ratings released May 6 by Nielsen Media Research.

In the race portion of the broadcast, featuring Street Sense and jockey Calvin Borel’s come-from-behind victory at Churchill Downs (5:45-6:45 p.m.) earned a 9.8/21, up 10% from 2006 (8.9/20). NBC's Derby pre-race coverage (5-5:45 p.m.) notched a 6.4/15, 16% ahead of 2006 (5.5/13).

The top 10 metered markets for the race portion of the broadcast were Louisville, Ky., 36.6/65; Nashville, Tenn., 16.0/30; Columbus, Ohio, 15.9/32; Fort Myers, Fla., 14.9/29; Cincinnati, Ohio, 14.4/30; West Palm Beach, Fla., 14.2/30; Richmond, Va., and Knoxville, Tenn., 13.8/25 and 13.8/24 respectively; Buffalo, N.Y., 13.7/30; and Tampa, Fla., and Dayton, Ohio, 13.6/26 and 13.6/25 respectively.

Viewership numbers for the race portion will be available when national ratings become available May 8, officials said.

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