Versus’ coverage of the IZOD IndyCar Series’ Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18 earned a .5 national
household television rating, according Nielsen Media Research, making it the network's highest-rated and most-watched
race.
The race, won by Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay, averaged 490,000 viewers during its 3-6 p.m. window and peaked
with .6 household rating and 525,000 viewers.
Versus’ first three races of the 2010 season, as compared to the same number of live events last season, have grown
67 percent in household ratings (.5 vs .3) and 30 percent in average viewers (404,000 vs. 310,000), according to Nielsen.
Additionally, viewership among all key male demographics is also showing substantial growth: Men 18-34 (up 104 percent),
Men 18-49 (up 38 percent) and Men 25-54 (up 60 percent).
The open-wheel racing series faces a big test in May, with two races airing nationally on ABC. The series races at the Kansas
Speedway May 1 and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 30. Both are oval races and series officials are hoping for big
TV viewer numbers to win over sponsors.
Potential TV advertisers have told IBJ they need to see at least a 1.0 rating, and preferably a 1.5 before they will consider
spending serious cash on advertising during IndyCar races.
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code = 4e6rh
You have nothing
Do I have that right?
While they have a long, long way to go, the fact the ratings are going up while other forms of racing is going down is a good sign. Everyone said the VS contract was a long term project and risky a that. Hopefully the ratings keep going up.
THEY also do not want whats right for the SPORT, THEY only want whats right for Hulman Inc. The speedway it's own best friend and it's worst enemy.
The ratings, no matter what they are, are not close to what they should be. As long as they keep rising, things are looking favorable.
Hulmanista's are Pyrrhonian Skeptics. Nothing can challenge the great Oz of Indy. Nothing, no how....unless the great wizards bringforth press releases for the masses that explain everything, never to be challenged. BY ANY ONE...unless you have links or IMS connections.
You guys are cracking me up.
The TWO weeks of May is fast approaching and Baby Rahal ain't gotta seat! Do you really thing this is momentum? What ride buyers are gonna replace TBA as drivers of all them IRL rockets? Will a Penske or Ganassi dominate the rest of the season (just like the past 4 or 5 years)? Will Danica get another spinner? Will Ryan Hunter IZOD keep winning but his whole team still keep sucking? Will "Taser" get another car to drive? What happened to the plans to renovate the area around the speedway? What DIRT trackers are gonna race this year? Is Tyce or Billy Boat or Greg Ray gonna be in the gratest 2 weeks evah?
Does anyone realise that strett and road courses outdrew both on TV and in the stands the OVALs the IRL was designed to protect and put good american drivers on, specifically the ones from rural midwest dirt tracks, just like the old days. Ed Carpenter is in...but seriously folks, that boy ain't gonna win. SO many questions. Off to bingo...
Ain't the IRL grate? LENIN would be proud of the new IRL Technical Committee. I mean, all the same cars, same engines (except Ryan, Danica and former Sam the Sham), same technical rules. I heard on the innerwebs today a suggestion...just give 'em all the trophy for winning! Everyone WINS in the IRL! Could be new slogan. No COMPETITIVE advantage EVER! Woot! Go IRL!
Before they bulldozed the Motel and before they mortgaged the golf course, the Brickyard Crossing would host classic racing films night showcasing Grand Prix, Winning and all the others. It was TRADITION.
I guess that's when racing meant something at Indy. Now it's considered expendable by some. Maybe we can get 'em to show it at MCL's now.
A couple of things to mull over. The most popular racing series on this side of the pond has had one champion in the last 4 years and 3 teams dominating the last 11 seasons with the most ultra spec cars ever invented. F1, the worlds most popular series, in the last decade has had one team win 6 titles, and finally cart/owrs/ccws, the series that Chief holds up as the pinnacle of racing success, was dominated by 3 teams in the last 12 years of its existence combining to win 11 titles with NHL winning 5 of them before it killed itself. And you guys presume to know how to run a racing series?
Is Chief more upset the Speedway tore down the motel or he can't sneak into free movies there anymore?
Is it more important to post facts, or unsubstantiated guesses?
let us ponder for awhile.
FACT is CART grew the Indycar series (with the IMS/INDY 500 as benefactor during it's stead) to heights that have not been seen again..not in 15 years or $644MILLION worth of investment in the IRL. FACT.
Not in popularity or anything else. IF CART had dropped DEAD in 1996 INDYMAN would have a point...but as usual his point is worthless because Indy still stands and the sport is in shambles. The IRL exists as a mere patient on life support from the meddling of the Speedway these past 15 years.
Ok, it stands but it stands for FAILURE. Nothing more, nothing less. What has been lost is LOST. Making the IRL CART ain't gonna bring it back despite what IRL/IMS lovers want you to believe. Humpty Dumpty is being resurected to the delight of fans like INDYMAN, in exactly the likeness of CART. But, seriously folks, it's not CART is it?
Enjoy your strret raing series...errr all oval series that even TONY GEORGE himself doesn't want to be a part of...but YOU all strived to be. Nothing but FAILURE...15 years of FAILURE. Indyman LOVES IT THOUGH.
You keep saying how successful cart was, good term. But as you said, it killed itself. therefore, something in its business plan did not work. facts are facts. As with any nasty war, one side wins, one loses. And like any civil war, the winner comes out bloody. in this case, haters like you keep trying to drag it down, but it keeps marching on. How many times has your side forecast the last year for the IRL and how many times have you been wrong?
Sorry, but with the pathetic excuse for a racing series that Indy Car has become, it ain't gonna happen.
Look forward to the new mixed shopping and residential complex at 16th and Georgetown. It's coming.