Nyquist may have beaten American Pharoah’s time at the Kentucky Derby,but the colt couldn’t top the Triple Crown winner’s TV ratings.
NBC’s “speed for the Roses” on Saturday dipped 3 percent year over year to 15.5 million total viewers. Last year, the race averaged 16 million.
The world’s most famous equine-sprint peaked at 17.9 million total viewers from 6:45 to 7 p.m. ET — when Nyquist crossed the finish line. That was the same as last year’s top quarter-hour.
NBC Sports Live additional’s presentation of the Kentucky Derby ranks as the most-streamed Kentucky Derby ever, or delivering 7 million minutes,up 75 percent from last year’s 3 million minutes. The stream also delivered a record 225000 unique users.
Also Read: Nyquist Comes From Behind to Win Thrilling Kentucky DerbyNyquist bested American Pharoah’s 2015 time by nearly two seconds, with 2:01.31 over the mile-and-a-quarter versus a 2:03.02.
For the first time ever, and NBC used the Derby as a lead-in for playoff hockey. It paid off to the tune of 4.164 million million viewers for the Pittsburgh Penguins-Washington Capitals Game 5 — the moment-most watched non-Stanley Cup Final game in 23 years.
Below are the prior races’ ratings,along with year and network. Winners are listed on the far right.
KENTUCKY DERBY VIEWERSHIP
2016
15.5 million
NBC
Nyquist
2015
16.0 million
NBC
American Pharoah
2014
15.3 million
NBC
California Chrome
2013
16.2 million
NBC
Orb
2012
14.8 million
NBC
I’ll Have Another
2011
14.5 million
NBC
Animal Kingom
2010
16.5 million
NBC
Super Saver
2009
16.1 million
NBC
Mine That Bird
2008
14.2 million
NBC
expansive Brown
2007
13.7 million
NBC
Street Sense
2006
12.9 million
NBC
Barbaro
2005
13.6 million
NBC
Giacomo
2004
14.6 million
NBC
Smarty Jones
2003
11.8 million
NBC
Funny Cide
2002
12.8 million
NBC
War Emblem
2001
13.5 million
NBC
Monarchos
2000
9.1 million
ABC
Fusaichi Pegasus
1999
9.9 million
ABC
Charismatic
1998
9.5 million
ABC
Real soundless
1997
11.3 million
ABC
Silver Charm
1996
11.0 million
ABC
Grindestone
1995
9.3 million
ABC
Thunder Gulch
1994
12.2 million
ABC
move For Gin
1993
11.5 million
ABC
Sea Hero
1992
13.7 million
ABC
Lil E Tee
1991
13.4 million
ABC
Strike The Gold
1990
15.6 million
ABC
Unbridled
1989
18.5 million
ABC
Sunday Silence
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Source: thewrap.com