Viewership for 2017 Daytona 500 up from last year

NASCAR’s TV partner claims that between FOX, FOX Sports Go and FOX Desportes, the networks’ average audience was 12 million viewers. Throughout the broadcast window, FOX estimated 23.3 million viewers checked out the event including nearly 12 million visitors on FOX. 

The peak time over the five-hour broadcast was between 6:15 and 6:30 PM ET when FOX attracted more than 14 million viewers.

FOX reported the following gains:

The household rating for men ages 18-34 were up 10-percent over last year. The 2.2 share tied a four-year high. Adult in the 18-34 category rose 13-percent with a 1.8 share, which tied a four-year high.
The household rating for men ages 18-49 was up nine-percent with a 3.7 share. Adults in the same category rose four-percent.

The household rating for men ages 25-54 was up four-percent with a 5.2 share. There was a three-percent gain in rating for Adults 25-54.

“We're certainly encouraged by the audience growth for the Daytona 500," said Mike Mulvihill, FOX Sports EVP of Research, League Operations & Strategy. "I'm particularly happy to see sharp growth early in the race, which I think is a sign that the new format drew viewers in earlier. The growth slowed a bit later in the race with the eventual absence of key drivers, including (Jimmie) Johnson, (Dale) Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch, but overall, I think we saw a lot of reasons for optimism on Sunday. While it's far too early for FOX or NASCAR to take a victory lap, we're feeling good headed into Atlanta.” 

FOX predicts the Daytona 500 will the highest viewed sporting event of the weekend and earn the best rating since the networks broadcast of the Super Bowl on Feb. 5. Greensboro N.C. had the largest market share — 17.5, followed by Greenville, S.C. (16.5), Indianapolis (14.4), Knoxville, Tenn. (12.7) and Jacksonville, Fla. (12.4). The Austin, Texas market saw the greatest growth — 111-percent over last season.