Atlanta TV Ratings: ESPNs live telecast of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday night, Sept. 1, earned a 3.2 U.S. household rating, averaging 5,322,850 viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating was down from the 3.4 for last years race, which also aired on ESPN and averaged 5,557,932 viewers.
Greensboro, N.C., was the nations highest-rated metered television market for the telecast, earning a 9.4 rating, while Greenville, S.C., was second with an 8.5 rating. Indianapolis (7.8), Knoxville, Tenn., (7.4) and Birmingham, Ala., (7.3) were third through fifth. The rest of the top 10 markets were Norfolk, Va., (6.9), Charlotte, N.C., (6.8), Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn., (6.4) and Richmond, Va., (6.3)(ESPN)(9-4-2013)
Bristol TV Ratings: With an average of 6.3 million people watching, ABCs live telecast of the Irwin Tools Night Race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night, Aug. 24, was the most-viewed version of the race since ESPN and ABC returned to live NASCAR coverage in 2007. The viewership average of 6,322,082 was up from the average of 5,905,051 from last years race, according to the Nielsen Company. The telecast earned a 3.9 U.S. household rating, up from a 3.7 for last years race, despite the race not airing on ABC in seven markets due to ABC affiliates airing NFL pre-season football games. With a 9.4 rating, Greenville, S.C., was the nations highest-rated market, followed by Knoxville, Tenn., and Greensboro, N.C., at 8.9. Charlotte, N.C., was fourth with an 8.7 rating with Richmond, Va., fifth at 8.2. Rounding out the top 10 were Norfolk, Va., 7.3; Indianapolis and Birmingham, Ala., at 6.3; Raleigh-Durham, N.C., at 6.2 and Orlando, Fla., at 6.1.
ESPNs live telecast of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol on Friday night, Aug. 23, earned a 1.1 U.S. household rating, averaging 1,686,962 viewers. The rating was the same as last years race but viewership was up from 1,599,526 in 2012.(ESPN)(8-27-2013)