Ratings Roundup: 16.5 Million Viewers Witness Hectic Finish, Disqualification of Maximum Security at the 145th Kentucky Derby

Ratings Roundup: 16.5 Million Viewers Witness Hectic Finish, Disqualification of Maximum Security at the 145th Kentucky Derby By Kristian Hernandez, Assistant Editor

Tuesday, May 7, 2019 - 9:00 am

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Ratings roundup is a rundown of rating news from the past week and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, drama at the Kentucky Derby grabs 16.5 million viewers, the NFL Draft in Nashville concluded with impressive numbers, NBCSN enjoys a prosperous April in ratings that are headlined by the most-watched first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven years, local NHL and NBA ratings are released, the Madden NFL 19 Championship is the most-watched live tournament in the game's history, the NTT IndyCar Series hovers around an average of 400,000 viewers, and the inaugural draft of the Premier Lacrosse League captures attention on NBCSN.

16.5 Million Watch Maximum Security Disqualify at the 2019 Kentucky Derby

NBC Sports' presentation of the 145th Kentucky Derby on NBC posted multiple viewership increases and milestones, according to fast national data provided by Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

The victory by Country House in the Run for the Roses posted a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 16.5 million viewers across NBC and NBC Sports Digital platforms - up 10% from last year's race (15.0 million) featuring eventual Triple Crown winner Justify, and marking television's largest Saturday audience since the NFL Divisional Playoffs (Jan. 12, 2019). NBC Sports Digital's presentation of the Kentucky Derby delivered a record Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 130,400 viewers for the event via the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com.

NBC averaged 18.0 million TV-only Kentucky Derby viewers when Maximum Security and Country House crossed the finish line in the 6:45-7 p.m. ET quarter hour, before peaking at 18.5 million viewers for the dramatic post-race coverage on NBC from 7-7:15 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports has averaged at least 15 million viewers for the Kentucky Derby for seven consecutive years - the longest streak for the event in People Meter history (since 1988).

Nashville Hosts the NFL Draft Down Broadway

The 2019 NFL Draft has set new records in media consumption and fan attendance. With a combined 3.9 HH TV rating and average of 6.1 million TV and digital viewers (Nielsen Fast Nationals), the 2019 NFL Draft is the highest-rated and most-watched Draft ever, breaking records established just a year ago. In total, all NFL Draft telecasts combined to reach more than 47.5 million television viewers over the three-day event, up 5% vs. 2018. (Nielsen's Fast Total Audience Estimates)

The extensive distribution strategy helped grow the combined rating and viewership by 11% and 8% respectively over 2018.

In addition to media consumption, the 2019 NFL Draft shattered records for attendance as over 600,000 fans fill the streets of Nashville to celebrate the newest class of NFL rookies, easily establishing a new record (250k in 2017 - Philadelphia). Many of those in Nashville not attending the NFL Draft in-person were watching from home, as the market delivered a combined for a 10.6 HH rating - up 104% versus Nashville last year, and up 74% versus the 2018 host city.

After the host city, the top ten was rounded out by New Orleans (8.3), Richmond, VA (7.7), Cleveland (7.0), Columbus, OH (6.9), Kansas City (6.8), Buffalo (6.8), Birmingham, AL (6.7), Dayton (6.7), and Milwaukee (6.6).

NBCSN Powers Through for Impactful Month of April

Buoyed by the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, a full slate of Premier League matches, and two INDYCAR races, NBCSN delivered the most-watched April in the network's history in both primetime and Total Day, according to live plus same day data released by Nielsen, with additional digital data from Adobe Analytics.

In primetime, NBCSN's viewership for the month increased 29% - the largest primetime growth among all ad-supported cable networks compared to April 2018, which includes the greatest increase among sports cable networks.

NBCSN, which also ranked as the #2 sports cable network in both primetime and Total Day viewing in April, averaged 663,000 primetime viewers in the month (April 1-28), up 29% from April 2018 (515,000), and 194,000 Total Day viewers, up 15% from last April (168,000).

In addition, NBC Sports Group's Golf Channel averaged 113,000 Total Day viewers in April to rank as the #1 single-sport network for the third consecutive month.

In their Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage, the network delivered the most-watched First Round in seven years, according to Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics. First Round coverage across NBC Sports' cable platforms produced the most-watched First Round on cable in 25 years and ranks as the second-best First Round on cable on record (since 1994). The First Round milestones were punctuated by three Game 7s, including the Hurricanes-Capitals series finale on NBCSN, which is now the most-watched First Round cable game on record.

Across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app, the 45 Stanley Cup Playoff First Round games averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 778,000 viewers, making it the most-watched First Round in seven years (2012; 936,000), NBC Sports' third-most watched First Round ever (since 2006), and up 1% vs. last year (769,000).

NBC Sports' cable coverage of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round across NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app, averaged a TAD of 673,000 viewers, up 18% vs. last year (572,000) and making it the second-most watched First Round on cable on record (1994; 702,000; ESPN networks).

Overall, the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs produced the most streamed First Round ever in all key me

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