UK TV Viewing Figures (Indy 500)

[BobGarage]

BARB has released the UK TV viewing figures for the w/e 25/05/2008 today.

Indy 500 got 62,000 viewers. The first time the series has broken the 40,000 viewers mark all season. And the first time the series has featured in Sky Sports top ten most viewed programmes for the week (placing 3rd on sky sports 3).

In contrast the Coca-Cola 600 got less than 31,000 viewers the same day. And NASCAR regularly gets around the 30,000 viwers mark (Daytona and Talladega excepted which had 40,000+ viewers each)

[MAX_THRUST]

It could have been 62,001, but I still haven't got sky.

I think that is great news for the series that there has been an increase, perhaps Sky will consider promoting it more.

Managed to catch Indy lights on Motors TV, its good, but I really wanna see the IRL. Not seen the 500 yet, still waiting for a tape.

[Lousada]

Last year in The Netherlands it had a rating of 450k or so, similar to the average Grand Prix. This year it was not on public tv, so I'd be surprised if they had even 450 viewers.
I suppose this trend is similar to almost every country in Europe. Way to go IRL

[BobGarage]

unfortunatley BARB don't do viewing figures for eurosports2 so I don't know what CC's UK figures were over the last few years, but in 2004 when it was on MotorsTV it was in the 100,000 range every week.

Last years Indy 500 got 48,000 viewers, so skys viewing figures this year have obviously picked up some champ car fans.

[mikiec]

unfortunatley BARB don't do viewing figures for eurosports2 so I don't know what CC's UK figures were over the last few years, but in 2004 when it was on MotorsTV it was in the 100,000 range every week.

Last years Indy 500 got 48,000 viewers, so skys viewing figures this year have obviously picked up some champ car fans.

That just highlights the advantages to advertisers and sponsors of getting it on a FTA/FTV channel.

[infoxicated]

It could have been 62,001, but I still haven't got sky.

It could have been 62,002, but I canceled Sky Sports after they showed the first couple of races tape delayed. Been watching it on the IndyCar.com streaming service and although the picture isn't as good as seeing it on the tv, I don't get adverts and I get to follow the action elsewhere in the pack.

It's a shame that Sky have turned their backs on the series just as it got a huge boost in momentum.

[MAX_THRUST]

Well I live in hope Sky drop it all together and Motors or Eurosport pick it up. I have not seen a single race in full all year, and to be honest I am definately posting less and less here, as my interest is draing away. Its only now I'm starting to miss the split cause at least I saw champ car. I'd love to watch the IRL, but it is becoming a distant memory. What do I watch on a Sunday evening now???? Not Songs of Praise.

[johnny shell]

wow, 62,000?? that's like half of all england, isn't it????

[evo5_mat]

Well be interesting to see how many people watched the whole race as i was flicking mainly watching it then in end got so bored i put it on sly + record mode.
It still suprises me that sky had shown IRL races for a number of years and yet they get Nascar and straight away show there intent that nascar is the more important event to them.
That alone shows what level IRL regarded to the sky team, makes me wonder if they try and get a race over at Rockingham soon ?

[dataman1]

Seems to me that the UK TV audience for US racing is similar to the USA TV audience for those big Truck races they hold in Europe. Great entertainment IMO.