Preakness TV Ratings Down, But OK

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Overnight ratings for NBC’s coverage of the May 15 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) from Pimlico in Baltimore declined from year-ago numbers, according to figures released by the network.

The 2010 Preakness, won by Lookin At Lucky  , generated a 6.4 overnight rating and a 15 share. The rating represents the number of households tuned to the telecast—about five million—while the share represents the percentage of TVs in use that were tuned to the Preakness.

In 2009, when the filly Rachel Alexandra battled longshot Derby winner Mine That Bird, NBC’s telecast earned a 7.9/18, which were the highest Preakness numbers since Smarty Jones won the race in 2004, getting a 9.2 rating.

When Big Brown won the Preakness in 2008, the numbers were 6.2/14. In 2007, when Curlin nosed Derby winner Street Sense, the numbers were identical to this year—6.4/15.

In the 10 years that NBC has televised the Preakness, the average rating has been 7.1.

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