NASCAR Ratings Still Strongest In Southern Markets

Southern Markets Continuing To Provide Bulk Of NASCAR's TV Ratings

NASCAR is “still an also-ran in big cities outside the South,” according to Michael Hiestand of USA TODAY. This season’s Nextel Cup races on Fox, TNT, ESPN and ABC are averaging a 4.2 Nielsen rating, down 9% from last year’s average and down 21% from ’05.  Sunday’s Checker Auto Parts 500 “showed interest still is largely regional," as the race drew a 10.5 in Greenville, a 9.1 in Knoxville and a 7.8 in Birmingham, but just a 1.3 in N.Y, a 1.9 in L.A. and a 2.4 in Chicago. But NASCAR VP/Broadcasting & New Media Dick Glover noted that those markets, which constitute about 15% of TV HHs in the U.S., are "up slightly or even with last year." ESPN VP/Research Glenn Enoch said ratings this season on the net among males 18-34 are “virtually flat," and that the “big losses came among viewers older than 55” (USA TODAY, 11/14).

TAILGATING: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Kimberly Nordyke reports NASCAR Digital Entertainment and production distribution company Creative Artists Entertainment Group have created a new reality competition series titled, “NASCAR: Serving It Up.” The series “centers on a cooking competition to find ‘the next great chef personality’ and will showcase NASCAR and its race events.” A group of aspiring chefs will prepare recipes during competitions at local races. The series, which is expected to launch in September and consist of 40 half-hour episodes, is being offered for “straight barter in broadcast syndication.” NASCAR Managing Dir of Film, TV & Entertainment Sarah Nettinga said that the companies will also be “looking for a cable partner” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/14).