NASCAR exec says they prefer later race start times due to better television viewership
The impact of earlier start times on NASCAR viewership often goes underreported.
The impact of earlier start times on NASCAR viewership often goes underreported.
"It's impossible to say exactly how much it's driving the ratings, but you've certainly got to look at that stat and say we exposed the sport to a new audience."
NBC boasted viewership and ratings gains across the board for its coverage of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Not counting the Daytona 500, it was the most-watched NASCAR race in over two years.
A four percent year-over-year rise is nice, but that doesn't remove all the concerns about NASCAR ratings.
The 1.0 here is part of a disturbing trend; more races this year have pulled a 1.5 or less than in the previous 17 seasons combined.
The Fox/FS1 average of 3,983,000 viewers this year was a long way from the heights of 5,578,000 in 2016.