TBS Superstation's primetime telecast of NASCAR's Coca-
Cola 600 on Sunday night received a 5.0 household rating,
with 3,744,000 million households, which is up 6% over last
year. TBS announced that the race delivered more households
than any auto race in network history, and the third-highest
in basic cable history. Viewership among adults 18-49 and
25-54 was up 24% and 26%, respectively (TBS). In Charlotte,
Langston Wertz reports that the Coca-Cola 600 rating was
flat compared to '97, but that viewership was up from last
year's 3.5 million (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/28).
INDY-PENDANT: The Indianapolis 500, which was tape
delayed and shown at 7:00pm CT in Indianapolis, received a
12.1/22 local rating. The national overnight was a 5.8/16,
which is down 18% from '96 and 33% from '95. ABC Dir of
Media Relations Mark Mandel attributed to the growth of
cable, among other factors, to the numbers drop: "There are
very few shows that will stand up to the (ratings of the)
past. These ratings are in line with what we're looking at.
It's still a blue chip event" (INDY STAR-NEWS, 5/28).
