ESPN, IRL Officials Pleased With Series’ Flat TV Ratings
 |
IRL Officials Happy With TV
Ratings So Far This Season |
Through 13 races this IRL season, six saw TV ratings increase, six saw decreases,
and “the other had no movement,” according to the INDIANAPOLIS STAR’s Curt Cavin.
ESPN Dir of Motorsports Programming Frantz Cayo said that he “is satisfied with
the IRL’s progress.” Cayo: “The IRL had lightning in a bottle last year with Danica
Patrick, so we’re very impressed that we’ve kept a number of the viewers that
sampled (the league). Compared to 2004, we’re up (with ratings).” IRL VP/PR John
Griffin said, “You can’t compare our ratings to last year because of the Danica
factor. You have to look at two years ago to have a true comparison.” Cavin notes
of the 11 tracks left on the current schedule from ’04, “eight managed the same
or better ratings this year.” The Indy 500 drew a 6.5 rating last year as Patrick
became the first woman to lead the race. The race drew a 5.1 rating this year
when she “wasn’t as much of a contender.” In ’04, the rating was 4.1, “consistent
with its numbers” in ’02 and ’03. IRL ratings “might have been better this year
had a three-hour rain delay” not impacted the race at Michigan Int’l Speedway
on July 30; the event earned a 1.0 rating. Last year’s race at MIS drew a 1.3,
the “second-best rating of the IRL’s season.” The chart below shows the IRL races
with the biggest ratings increases and decreases from last season (INDIANAPOLIS
STAR, 9/8).
| TRACK |
RATING |
% CHANGE |
| Homestead-Miami Speedway |
0.8 |
+25% |
| Milwaukee Mile |
0.4 |
+25% |
| Infineon Raceway |
0.6 |
+16.7% |
| Twin Ring Motegi |
0.6 |
+16.7% |
| Watkins Glen Int'l |
0.8 |
+12.5% |
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
5.1 |
-21.6% |
| Michigan Int'l Speedway |
1.0 |
-23.1% |
| Streets of St. Petersburg |
0.3 |
-25% |
| Texas Motor Speedway |
0.6 |
-40% |
| Nashville Superspeedway |
0.4 |
-42.9% |
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