The Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock is the Most Watched Sporting Event Since Super Bowl, Averaging Nearly 15 Million Viewers

NBC’s Kentucky Derby Coverage Peaked at 16.6 Million Viewers as Mage Crossed Finish Line

Led by Peacock, 2023 Kentucky Derby is Most Streamed Horse Race Ever – Up 50% From Last Year

The Preakness Stakes is Sat., May 20 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC & Peacock

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 8, 2023 – NBC Sports’ presentation of the 149th Kentucky Derby, won by Mage, averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 14.8 million viewers – making it the most-watched sporting event and second most watched show (Academy Awards) since Super Bowl LVII in February.

Additional viewership highlights from Saturday’s Kentucky Derby coverage:

  • With 14.8 million viewers, the 2023 Kentucky Derby is NBC Sports’ 14th consecutive presentation of the “Run for the Roses” to top 14.5 million viewers (excludes 2020 event which was held in Sept.).
  • Viewership peaked at 16.6 million viewers from 7-7:15 p.m. ET on NBC, as Mage took the lead in the homestretch and won by a length. Mage is only the third horse to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year old, joining 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, and Apollo (1882).
  • The TV-only average audience of 14.4 million viewers is NBC’s most-watched program since the NFL Playoffs in January.
  • Led by Peacock, the event posted a record Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 371,000 viewers across NBCUniversal streaming platforms – up 50% from last year (247,000).
  • The NBC-TV household rating for the broadcast (6:31-7:21 p.m. ET) was a 6.9/24.

Total Audience Delivery is based upon live-plus-same day figures from Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

148TH PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 20: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner Mage attempts the next step in his Triple Crown quest. NBC Sports’ coverage of The 148th Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins with the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on Friday, May 19, at 4:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.  NBC Sports presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 20, at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, with coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET on CNBC and Peacock.

PREAKNESS STAKES COVERAGE
DateTimeEventNetwork
Fri., May 194:30 p.m.Black-Eyed Susan StakesPeacock
Sat., May 201 p.m.Preakness SaturdayCNBC, Peacock
Sat., May 204:30 p.m.Preakness StakesNBC, Peacock

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2023 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)

1.Louisville26.6/65
2.Cincinnati16.3/46
3.Ft. Myers15.2/41
4.Knoxville13.4/32
5.West Palm Beach13.2/32
6.Buffalo11.7/33
7.New Orleans10.8/24
8.Hartford10.7/33
9.Baltimore10.4/35
10.Minneapolis10.2/32

--NBC SPORTS--

Dan Masonson

203-356-2790

[email protected]

ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK

Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”), the world’s most legendary racetrack, has been the home of The Kentucky Derby,the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Located in Louisville, CDRT features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the Spring, September, and the Fall. CDRT is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track, a stabling area, and provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests. The stable area has barns sufficient to accommodate 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel. CDRT also has a year-round simulcast wagering facility. www.ChurchillDowns.com.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY DERBY

The $3 million Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday in May at historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Inaugurated in 1875, the legendary 1 1/4-mile race for three-year-olds is the longest continually-held major sporting event inNorth America and the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown series. Also known as, "The Run for the Roses®" and "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports®," the Kentucky Derby is the most attended horserace in the nation. This year, the Kentucky Derby will take place on May 6, 2023. For more information, please visitwww.KentuckyDerby.com.

Press Contacts

Tonya Abeln
Vice President, Corporate Communications

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