Viewership for the Belmont Stakes on NBC soared, with 7.67 million viewers – despite the scratch of Triple Crown-hopeful I’ll Have Another, topping last year by 12%, and 2010 by 62%. Saturday’s viewership is the highest for a non-Triple Crown Belmont since 2005 on NBC, and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown Belmont in Nielsen People Meter history (dating back to 1988).
The average viewership for this year’s three Triple Crown races on NBC (Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont) is up 2% from last year’s three races, is the best for a non-Triple Crown year since 2005, and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown also dating back to 1988.
2012 BELMONT STAKES:
• NBC’ broadcast of the Belmont Stakes, which was won by Union Rags, drew 7.67 million viewers, a gain of 12 percent from last year’s race (6.84 million on NBC), and up 62% from the 2010 race (4.74 million on ABC). Saturday’s Belmont was the most-watched in a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 on NBC, less than one percent lower than the 7.71 million that year, according to official national data provided today by The Nielsen Company.
• The race portion of the Belmont (6:13-6:58 p.m. ET) registered a 4.8/11 national household rating, 12% higher than last year’s 4.3/10 on NBC and 60% higher than the 2010 Belmont (3.0/7 on ABC).
• The pre-race (5-6:13), bolstered by a 90-minute Belmont Access show on NBC Sports Network that preceded the NBC broadcast, drew 4.35 million viewers, up 27% over last year (3.43 million on NBC) and up 129% from the 2010 pre-race on ABC (1.90 million).
The three Triple Crown races on NBC (Kentucky Derby – 14.83 million, Preakness – 8.08 million and Belmont – 7.67 million) averaged 10.34 million viewers, up 2% from last year’s three races (10.12 million), making it the best average for a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 (10.40 million), and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown since the advent of Nielsen People Meters in 1988.
The three Triple Crown races on NBC (Kentucky Derby – 14.83 million, Preakness – 8.08 million and Belmont – 7.67 million) averaged 10.34 million viewers, up 2% from last year’s three races (10.12 million), making it the best average for a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 (10.40 million), and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown since the advent of Nielsen People Meters in 1988.
• This year’s three-race average viewership of 10.34 million even topped the averages in 1997 (8.75 million), 1998 (8.06 million), 1999 (8.05 million) on ABC when a Triple Crown was at stake in the Belmont.
BELMONT STAKES VIEWERSHIP SINCE 1998 (Race Portion):
2012 7.67 million NBC
2011 6.84 million NBC
2010 4.74 million ABC
2009 6.64 million ABC
*2008 13.06 million ABC
2007 4.86 million ABC
2006 5.04 million ABC
2005 7.71 million NBC
*2004 21.86 million NBC
*2003 15.70 million NBC
*2002 12.41 million NBC
2001 6.80 million NBC
2000 4.33 million ABC
*1999 9.33 million ABC
*1998 9.13 million ABC
*1997 8.24 million ABC
1996 3.97 million ABC
1995 5.08 million ABC
1994 5.92 million ABC
1993 6.43 million ABC
1992 6.76 million ABC
1991 5.33 million ABC
1990 6.77 million ABC
*1989 11.20 million ABC
1988 6.64 million ABC
*Triple Crown at stake
*Triple Crown at stake
2012 TRIPLE CROWN ON NBC
The three Triple Crown races on NBC (Kentucky Derby – 14.83 million, Preakness – 8.08 million and Belmont – 7.67 million) averaged 10.34 million viewers, up 2% from last year’s three races (10.12 million), making it the best average for a non-Triple Crown year since 2005 (10.40 million), and the second-best for a non-Triple Crown since the advent of Nielsen People Meters in 1988.
• This year’s three-race average viewership of 10.34 million even topped the averages in 1997 (8.75 million), 1998 (8.06 million), 1999 (8.05 million) on ABC when a Triple Crown was at stake in the Belmont.
KENTUCKY DERBY/PREAKNESS/BELMONT AVERAGE VIEWERSHIP SINCE 1988 (Race Portion):
2012 10.34 million NBC
2011 10.12 million NBC
2010 8.34 million ABC
2009 10.09 million ABC
*2008 11.81 million ABC
2007 8.39 million ABC
2006 8.78 million ABC
2005 10.40 million NBC
*2004 15.92 million NBC
*2003 11.78 million NBC
*2002 11.45 million NBC
2001 9.83 million NBC
2000 6.38 million ABC
*1999 8.05 million ABC
*1998 8.06 million ABC
*1997 8.75 million ABC
1996 6.81 million ABC
1995 6.35 million ABC
1994 8.21 million ABC
1993 8.33 million ABC
1992 9.70 million ABC
1991 8.07 million ABC
1990 9.98 million ABC
*1989 12.35 million ABC
1988 8.69 million ABC
*Triple Crown at stake
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