For NASCAR,
the thrill is finally back
Ratings are up for the just-ended racing season
By Toni Fitzgerald
Nov 30, 2011
Over the past few years, ratings for pro baseball, football, soccer and basketball have all seen gains.
The one sport that had been lagging was NASCAR, where ratings were in the midst of a five-year decline that finally came to an end this year.
Viewership for all four NASCAR carriers rose during the 2011 season. All 33 telecasts averaged 6.5 million total viewers, according to Nielsen, the first time since 2005 that the sport has seen growth.
Fox, which carried the most races, saw the biggest year-to-year bump, up 10 percent to 8.6 million.
ABC, which carried three races, was up 1 percent, and ESPN and TNT rose 7 percent and 3 percent apiece.
Why the turnaround after so many years of declines? One reason is certainly the high quality of the season.
The Chase for the Sprint Cup, the season-ending 10-race series that determines the season winner, came down to the very last race a week and a half ago, with Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards vying for the title.
Stewart ultimately prevailed in the Nov. 20 race, which drew 6.8 million viewers, the most ever for a NASCAR race on ESPN.
Viewership for the Chase for the Cup, which aired on both ESPN and ABC, rose 11 percent from last year, to 5 million viewers.
There were other factors that helped ratings as well.
With the NBA and NFL on strike throughout parts of the NASCAR season, fans may have been drawn back to the sport, which, unlike the other pro sports leagues, has not been hampered by labor woes.
There was also plenty of intrigue all season.
Stewart, who had won two previous titles when he drove for other owners but secured his first while driving for himself, came from behind during the regular season and had to win five Chase races to earn his title.
That ended a streak of five straight victories by Jimmie Johnson that, while certainly well-deserved, sucked some of the excitement out of the sport.
The classic duel between Stewart and Edwards earned it back.
Noted Palm Beach Post columnist David George: "NASCAR put on a show that may win more new fans than all of Jimmie Johnson's record five straight championships combined."
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Nov. 27:
Among adults 18-49, CBS was first for the week with a 2.5 average rating and a 7 share, followed by ABC at 2.1/6, NBC at 2.0/6, Fox at 1.9/5, Univision at 1.2/3, Telemundo at 0.6/2, CW at 0.4/1, ION at 0.3/1, TeleFutura at 0.3/1 and Azteca and Estrella at 0.1/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC's "Sunday Night Football" 7.9; 2. CBS's "Two and a Half Men" 5.2; Tie-3. ABC's "Modern Family" and CBS's "2 Broke Girls" 4.6; 5. CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" 4.4.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC's "Sunday Night Football" 20.34 million; 2. ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" 19.61 million; 3. ABC's "Dancing with the Stars Results" 19.56 million; 4. CBS's "NCIS" 18.50 million; 5. CBS's "60 Minutes" 16.98 million.
Top five time-shifted English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, by Live+SD versus Live+7 playback, week ended Nov. 13): 1. CBS's "Two and a Half Men" 1.6 increase (up 30.8 percent); 2. Fox's "House" 1.6 increase (up 57.1 percent); 3. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" 1.5 increase (up 36.6 percent); 4. Fox's "New Girl" 1.5 increase (up 42.9 percent); 5. CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" 1.4 increase (up 26.4 percent).
Show on the rise: CBS's "60 Minutes," Sunday 7:55 p.m. The newsmagazine benefitted from a very late NFL overrun lead-in with a 3.7 among 18-49s, up 28 percent from the previous week's 2.9.
Show on the decline: ABC's "Revenge," Wednesday 10 p.m. The drama took a pre-Thanksgiving hit, slipping 16 percent week-to-week among 18-49s from a 2.5 to a 2.1.
|
WEEKLY PRIMETIME
AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on
Households
Week Ending Nov. 27
|
|
Network
|
Households
|
People
2+
|
Adults
18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
6.0
|
6830
|
10
|
3.4
|
9760
|
8
|
2.5
|
3160
|
7
|
|
ABC
|
5.3
|
6130
|
9
|
3.0
|
8710
|
8
|
2.1
|
2740
|
6
|
|
NBC
|
3.6
|
4170
|
6
|
2.1
|
5960
|
5
|
2.0
|
2610
|
6
|
|
FOX
|
3.2
|
3620
|
5
|
1.9
|
5470
|
5
|
1.9
|
2450
|
5
|
|
UNI
|
1.5
|
1730
|
3
|
1.0
|
2950
|
3
|
1.2
|
1530
|
3
|
|
CW
|
0.8
|
870
|
1
|
0.4
|
1180
|
1
|
0.4
|
550
|
1
|
|
ION
|
0.7
|
820
|
1
|
0.4
|
1100
|
1
|
0.3
|
430
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.7
|
760
|
1
|
0.4
|
1280
|
1
|
0.6
|
730
|
2
|
|
TF
|
0.3
|
370
|
1
|
0.2
|
620
|
1
|
0.3
|
370
|
1
|
|
ETV
|
0.1
|
170
|
0
|
0.1
|
270
|
0
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
120
|
0
|
0.1
|
180
|
0
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
1 percent or
1.
147
million homes
Note: Viewing estimates include same day (3
a.m.-3 a.m.) DVR playback.
Source:
Nielsen
|
|
SEASON-TO-DATE
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 27
|
|
Network
|
Households
|
People
2+
|
Adults
18-49
|
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
CBS
|
8.0
|
9230
|
13
|
4.4
|
12860
|
11
|
3.4
|
4350
|
9
|
|
ABC
|
6.4
|
7390
|
10
|
3.4
|
9990
|
9
|
2.8
|
3630
|
8
|
|
FOX
|
5.6
|
6440
|
9
|
3.2
|
9390
|
8
|
3.4
|
4300
|
9
|
|
NBC
|
4.6
|
5310
|
7
|
2.5
|
7300
|
6
|
2.6
|
3260
|
7
|
|
UNI
|
1.9
|
2180
|
3
|
1.2
|
3590
|
3
|
1.5
|
1940
|
4
|
|
CW
|
1.4
|
1600
|
2
|
0.7
|
2080
|
2
|
0.9
|
1180
|
3
|
|
ION
|
0.7
|
760
|
1
|
0.3
|
970
|
1
|
0.3
|
370
|
1
|
|
TEL
|
0.6
|
740
|
1
|
0.4
|
1150
|
1
|
0.5
|
620
|
1
|
|
TF
|
0.3
|
320
|
0
|
0.2
|
490
|
0
|
0.2
|
290
|
1
|
|
ETV
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
0.1
|
220
|
0
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
210
|
0
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
|
*
Each rating point is equivalent to
one percent or
1.
147
million homes
Note:
Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average and Live+7 data, except for
the most recent two weeks which are based Live+SD viewing.
Source: Nielsen
|
|
TOP 25
PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 27
|
|
#
|
PROGRAMS
|
Net
|
HOUSEHOLDS
|
PERSONS
2+
|
|
Rtg%
|
Shr
|
(000)
|
#
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
|
1
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
12.7
|
19
|
14568
|
2
|
6.8
|
19605
|
|
2
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
12.5
|
20
|
14301
|
2
|
6.8
|
19563
|
|
3
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
12.3
|
19
|
14111
|
1
|
7.0
|
20344
|
|
4
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
11.3
|
18
|
12953
|
4
|
6.4
|
18495
|
|
5
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
10.5
|
15
|
11997
|
5
|
5.9
|
16984
|
|
6
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
9.6
|
14
|
11006
|
6
|
5.5
|
15817
|
|
7
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
8.7
|
13
|
9926
|
7
|
4.9
|
14307
|
|
8
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
8.6
|
13
|
9869
|
7
|
4.9
|
14095
|
|
9
|
MIKE & MOLLY
|
CBS
|
8.0
|
12
|
9150
|
9
|
4.5
|
13054
|
|
10
|
MODERN FAMILY SP-11/23(S)
|
ABC
|
7.2
|
12
|
8267
|
10
|
4.4
|
12719
|
|
11
|
CASTLE
|
ABC
|
7.1
|
12
|
8110
|
12
|
3.7
|
10851
|
|
12
|
2 BROKE GIRLS
|
CBS
|
6.8
|
10
|
7742
|
11
|
3.9
|
11326
|
|
13
|
HAWAII FIVE-0
|
CBS
|
6.7
|
11
|
7649
|
12
|
3.7
|
10592
|
|
14
|
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
6.6
|
10
|
7602
|
12
|
3.7
|
10750
|
|
14
|
UNFORGETTABLE
|
CBS
|
6.6
|
11
|
7613
|
16
|
3.6
|
10421
|
|
16
|
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
|
CBS
|
6.1
|
9
|
6995
|
18
|
3.5
|
10010
|
|
17
|
AMAZING RACE 19
|
CBS
|
6.0
|
9
|
6929
|
18
|
3.5
|
10149
|
|
18
|
ONCE UPON A TIME
|
ABC
|
5.9
|
9
|
6720
|
12
|
3.7
|
10687
|
|
19
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE SP(S)
|
CBS
|
5.7
|
12
|
6518
|
16
|
3.6
|
10375
|
|
20
|
LAST MAN STANDING
|
ABC
|
5.6
|
9
|
6460
|
21
|
3.2
|
9288
|
|
21
|
YOU DESERVE IT
|
ABC
|
5.5
|
8
|
6323
|
23
|
3.0
|
8553
|
|
22
|
X-FACTOR-TUE SP-11/22(S)
|
FOX
|
5.4
|
8
|
6245
|
20
|
3.3
|
9428
|
|
23
|
CRIMINAL MINDS SPECIAL(S)
|
CBS
|
5.3
|
9
|
6031
|
25
|
2.9
|
8303
|
|
23
|
MIDDLE SP-11/23, THE(S)
|
ABC
|
5.3
|
9
|
6097
|
22
|
3.1
|
9079
|
|
25
|
X-FACTOR-WED TKG EVE 8P(S)
|
FOX
|
5.2
|
9
|
5995
|
23
|
3.0
|
8602
|
|
0Source:
Nielsen
|
|
TOP 25
PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Nov. 27
|
|
Rank
|
Program
|
Net
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY
NIGHT FOOTBALL-11/27/2011
|
NBC
|
7.9
|
10054
|
|
2
|
TWO AND A
HALF MEN-11/21/2011
|
CBS
|
5.2
|
6701
|
|
3
|
MODERN
FAMILY SP-11/23-11/23/2011
|
ABC
|
4.6
|
5824
|
|
3
|
2 BROKE
GIRLS-11/21/2011
|
CBS
|
4.6
|
5827
|
|
5
|
HOW I MET
YOUR MOTHER-11/21/2011
|
CBS
|
4.4
|
5591
|
|
6
|
MIKE &
MOLLY-11/21/2011
|
CBS
|
4.2
|
5378
|
|
7
|
DANCING
W/STARS RESULTS-11/22/2011
|
ABC
|
4.1
|
5247
|
|
8
|
FOOTBALL NT
AMERICA PT 3-11/27/2011
|
NBC
|
3.9
|
4929
|
|
9
|
60
MINUTES-11/27/2011
|
CBS
|
3.7
|
4775
|
|
10
|
DANCING
WITH THE STARS-11/21/2011
|
ABC
|
3.5
|
4452
|
|
10
|
NCIS-11/22/2011
|
CBS
|
3.5
|
4484
|
|
12
|
ONCE UPON A
TIME-11/27/2011
|
ABC
|
3.4
|
4328
|
|
13
|
BIG BANG
THEORY, THE SP-11/24/2011
|
CBS
|
3.3
|
4208
|
|
14
|
X-FACTOR-TUE
SP-11/22-11/22/2011
|
FOX
|
3.2
|
4125
|
|
15
|
NCIS: LOS
ANGELES-11/22/2011
|
CBS
|
3.0
|
3869
|
|
16
|
AMAZING
RACE 19-11/27/2011
|
CBS
|
2.9
|
3685
|
|
17
|
HAWAII
FIVE-0-11/21/2011
|
CBS
|
2.8
|
3637
|
|
17
|
FAMILY
GUY-11/27/2011
|
FOX
|
2.8
|
3600
|
|
19
|
LAST MAN
STANDING-11/22/2011
|
ABC
|
2.7
|
3448
|
|
20
|
X-FACTOR-WED
TKG EVE 8P-11/23/2011
|
FOX
|
2.6
|
3264
|
|
20
|
HAPPY
ENDINGS SP-11/23-11/23/2011
|
ABC
|
2.6
|
3338
|
|
20
|
SIMPSONS-11/27/2011
|
FOX
|
2.6
|
3380
|
|
23
|
MIDDLE
SP-11/23, THE-11/23/2011
|
ABC
|
2.5
|
3147
|
|
23
|
SUBURGATORY
SP-11/23-11/23/2011
|
ABC
|
2.5
|
3162
|
|
23
|
HOUSE-11/21/2011
|
FOX
|
2.5
|
3225
|
|
Source:
Nielsen
|
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE
TELEVISION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 20
|
|
#
|
PROGRAMS
|
Net
|
Rtg
|
P2+
(000)
|
|
1
|
MIRA QUIEN BAILA 2 SUN
|
UNI
|
20.1
|
4886
|
|
2
|
FUERZA DEL DESTINO M-F
|
UNI
|
19.4
|
4577
|
|
3
|
FAMILIA CON SUERTE M-F
|
UNI
|
16.1
|
4021
|
|
4
|
AQUI Y AHORA TUE
|
UNI
|
13.1
|
2728
|
|
5
|
CUANDO ME ENAMORO M-F
|
UNI
|
12.5
|
2678
|
|
6
|
ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU-FRI
|
UNI
|
12.0
|
2957
|
|
7
|
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA MO
|
UNI
|
11.3
|
2486
|
|
8
|
SABADO GIGANTE SAT
|
UNI
|
10.6
|
2110
|
|
9
|
ASI ES JUAN GABRIEL
11/20(S)-11/20/2011
|
UNI
|
10.3
|
2248
|
|
10
|
C. CERRADO-ED. ESTELAR M-F
|
TEL
|
7.7
|
1691
|
|
11
|
CASA DE AL LADO M-F
|
TEL
|
6.5
|
1448
|
|
12
|
MI CORAZON INSISTE M-F
|
TEL
|
6.1
|
1398
|
|
13
|
FLOR SALVAJE M-F
|
TEL
|
5.6
|
1324
|
|
14
|
FINDING NEMO(S)-11/20/2011
|
TEL
|
4.3
|
1355
|
|
15
|
PA'LANTE CON CRISTINA
|
TEL
|
4.1
|
887
|
|
16
|
LIGA MEX DE FUTBOL SUN-01
|
TF
|
3.9
|
908
|
|
17
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT
|
TF
|
3.5
|
769
|
|
18
|
CINE DE IMPACTO II
|
TEL
|
3.3
|
894
|
|
19
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SAT 2
|
TF
|
3.0
|
702
|
|
20
|
FLM SAT 2
|
AZA
|
2.8
|
640
|
|
21
|
FIESTA DE PELICULA SUN
|
TF
|
2.5
|
545
|
|
22
|
PROTAGONISTAS M-F
|
TF
|
2.3
|
477
|
|
23
|
ULTIMO MATRIMONIO FLZ M-F
|
TF
|
1.8
|
333
|
|
24
|
CORREO DE INOCENTES M-F
|
TF
|
1.6
|
311
|
|
25
|
RETO DE MUJER M-F
|
TF
|
1.6
|
303
|
|
Source:
Nielsen
|
|
HISPANIC
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 20
|
|
#
|
PROGRAMS
|
Net
|
Rtg
|
P2+(000)
|
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
7.6
|
1522
|
|
2
|
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS(S)-11/20/2011
|
ABC
|
6.9
|
1612
|
|
3
|
DANCING W/STARS RESULTS
|
ABC
|
6.1
|
1070
|
|
3
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
6.1
|
1125
|
|
5
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
5.7
|
1093
|
|
6
|
TWO AND A HALF MEN
|
CBS
|
4.7
|
1048
|
|
7
|
CBS NFL NATL POST GUN
|
CBS
|
4.5
|
1048
|
|
8
|
X-FACTOR-WED
|
FOX
|
4.4
|
983
|
|
9
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
4.3
|
818
|
|
10
|
20/20 SP EDITION-11/14(S)-11/14/2011
|
ABC
|
4.2
|
741
|
|
10
|
X-FACTOR-THU
|
FOX
|
4.2
|
914
|
|
Source:
Nielsen
|
|
AFRICAN
AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Nov. 20
|
|
#
|
PROGRAMS
|
Net
|
Rtg
|
P2+(000)
|
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
17.8
|
3399
|
|
2
|
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
ABC
|
14.6
|
2616
|
|
3
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
13.8
|
2763
|
|
4
|
X-FACTOR-WED
|
FOX
|
10.9
|
2153
|
|
5
|
X-FACTOR-THU
|
FOX
|
10.4
|
2067
|
|
6
|
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
10.4
|
2023
|
|
7
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
9.3
|
1737
|
|
8
|
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
|
ABC
|
8.9
|
1997
|
|
9
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
8.5
|
1564
|
|
10
|
CSI: MIAMI
|
CBS
|
8.3
|
1620
|
|
*
Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen
|
|
TOP
20 NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Viewers
Week Ending Nov. 20
|
|
#
|
PROGRAMS
|
Net
|
Episode
|
Households
|
Persons 2+
|
|
US
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
(000)
|
|
1
|
CBS NFL
NATIONAL-11/20/2011
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS TEAMS
AND TIMES
|
13
|
14865
|
21462
|
|
2
|
NBC SUNDAY
NIGHT FOOTBALL-11/20/2011
|
NBC
|
PHILADELPHIA
AT NY GIANTS
|
12.5
|
14362
|
20305
|
|
3
|
FOX NFL
SUNDAY-SINGLE-11/20/2011
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS
TEAMS AND TIMES
|
12.2
|
13992
|
20025
|
|
4
|
FOX NFL
SUNDAY-PST GN-NAT-11/20/2011
|
FOX
|
VARIOUS
TEAMS AND TIMES
|
9.3
|
10702
|
15466
|
|
5
|
CBS NFL
REGIONAL-11/20/2011
|
CBS
|
VARIOUS
TEAMS AND TIMES
|
6.9
|
7882
|
10752
|
|
6
|
SAT NIGHT
FOOTBALL-11/19/2011
|
ABC
|
USC AT
OREGON/OK AT BAYLOR
|
6.1
|
7035
|
9744
|
|
7
|
ABC COLLEGE
FTBL GM-LATE-11/19/2011
|
ABC
|
VARIOUS
TEAMS AND TIMES
|
4.5
|
5180
|
6791
|
|
8
|
HOME DEPOT
CLLG FOOTBALL2-11/19/2011
|
CBS
|
MISS STATE
AT ARKANSAS
|
1.9
|
2227
|
3059
|
|
9
|
NOTRE DAME
FOOTBALL-11/19/2011
|
NBC
|
BOSTON
COLLEGE AT NOTRE DAME
|
1.6
|
1832
|
2321
|
|
10
|
ENGLISH
PREMIER LEAGUE-11/20/2011
|
FOX
|
CHELSEA AT
LIVERPOOL FC
|
1.1
|
1274
|
1662
|
|
11
|
LIGA MEXICANA
FUTBOL SAT-11/19/2011
|
UNI
|
QUERETARO
VS GUADALAJARA
|
0.7
|
806
|
1329
|
|
12
|
PRESIDENT'S
CUP GOLF-SAT-11/19/2011
|
NBC
|
|
1
|
1111
|
1325
|
|
13
|
PRESIDENT'S
CUP GOLF-SUN-11/20/2011
|
NBC
|
|
0.9
|
1081
|
1318
|
|
14
|
LIGA MEX DE
FUTBOL SUN-01-11/20/2011
|
TF
|
PACHUCA VS.
TIGRES
|
0.5
|
557
|
927
|
|
15
|
FLM SAT
2-11/19/2011
|
AZA
|
MONARCAS VS
CRUZ AZUL
|
0.3
|
400
|
642
|
|
16
|
CBS SPORTS
SPECTACULAR-SA-11/19/2011
|
CBS
|
EPIC POKER:
8-MAX MAIN EVENT
|
0.4
|
466
|
598
|
|
17
|
FLM SUN
2-11/20/2011
|
AZA
|
JAGUARES VS
SANTOS
|
0.3
|
306
|
547
|
|
18
|
BOXEO
TELEMUNDO-11/18/2011
|
TEL
|
|
0.2
|
238
|
366
|
|
19
|
BOXEO
AZTECA-11/19/2011
|
AZA
|
ALGIERI VS
JARGAL
|
0.1
|
132
|
193
|
|
20
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Source: Nielsen
|
|
|
|
