Per IndyCar PR ...
Viewership of VERSUS' broadcast of the Edmonton Indy on July 24 doubled over the 2010 race at City Centre Airport.
The 80-lap race on the 2.224-mile, 13-turn circuit won by Will Power registered a .60 rating -- the highest-rated IZOD IndyCar Series race on VERSUS this season.
Through seven races, VERSUS has seen a 25 percent ratings increase over its 2010 season average. It will televise the Honda Indy 200 at 2 p.m. (ET) Aug. 7.
"While I'm excited as we all are to see it I'm not surprised by it," said Robby Greene, president and COO of IMS Productions. "We have a fantastic product that gets better each week.
"From the support and leadership we receive from VERSUS through the strategic thinking of our producers and directors to the hardest-working group of professionals in the business actually making it happen on the course, we have an unbelievable opportunity here.
"While this does represent our highest rating thus far, we are seeing the signs regularly that growth is happening and an explosion is imminent. New sponsors, new cars, new tracks and promoters mixed with the fastest and most versatile seat in motor sports, what doesn't spell growth in that formula?"
It just occurred to me, and for the sake of accuracy, at what point last year did VS. disappear from the DirecTV offerings and how does that affect the ratings comparison?
Posted by: DZ | July 26, 2011 at 07:39 PM
While the increase is great, wake me up when we get over the 1.0 threshold on Versus.
Posted by: Dustin Dearman | July 26, 2011 at 09:28 PM
They disappeared in 2009 mid-season, I think.
They came back after Sao Paulo 2010 (the first race)
Posted by: Nathan | July 26, 2011 at 09:28 PM
We need Ernesto Viso and other wankers to smash race cars from the first lap of each race in order to titillate the slackjawed, mouth-breathing yokels who're lounging in duct-taped recliners. They'll phone their friends to say, "Hey, man! You gotta watch this IndyCawr racin'!"
Posted by: Br!an McKay | July 26, 2011 at 10:04 PM
No NASCAR, no football, started immediately after the Fox F1 coverage and the Tour de France final stage rerun (Cadel Evans superfans were lovin' it). Pretty much a perfect storm for a good number, so just as well that they got one.
Posted by: ThatGuy | July 27, 2011 at 12:41 PM
There was literally nothing on, on Sunday afternoon.
If you put the ICS on, against literally nothing, they can get .5's and .6's. Most sporting entities can say the same thing.
When they start getting decent numbers against some actual sporting competition, then some folks can throw a party.
Posted by: Jake Lamar | July 28, 2011 at 01:47 AM
Nice to see good exciting racing on a real race course be rewarded with an improving rating. The other night on "Trackside Live" Curt Cavin noted that the lowest Versus race ever was the Kentucky oval race between Carpenter and Briscoe.
Oval racing is as fake as a Rolex watch sold out of a truck for $99.
Posted by: Titus Pullo | July 28, 2011 at 07:58 AM
Here's how the Nielsen Rating system works.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nielsen_ratings
I am not, and will never fit their demographics. Too old.
My viewership isn't counted nor do I know of anyone who is counted nor have I ever heard of anyone who is counted. Certainly the 6 or so races I record each weekend aren't.
I suppose their averages work but for measuring auto racing I see a lot of holes.
Posted by: S0CSeven | July 28, 2011 at 08:19 AM
Always good news when ratings soar... (?)
However, clearly the combination of nothing else being on and the wreckfest at Toronto the previous week (the best race promotion you can get for the casual race fan)...
These in tandem certainly did not hurt...
Posted by: Ben Twickerbill | July 29, 2011 at 05:24 AM
"Oval racing is as fake as a Rolex watch sold out of a truck for $99."
So are Crapwagon trolls.
Posted by: Jack The Root | August 01, 2011 at 09:41 AM
I agree. (thumb up)
Edmonton had "a real race course"?
Uh, yeah ... as much as it wasn't imaginary, but ... a 'real' racetrack like Speedway, Indiana's or Fontana, California's or Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course or Spa-Francorchamps or Nurburgring or Watkins Glen or Road Atlanta or Daytona International Speedway?
Mmmm, no.
Posted by: Br!an McKay | August 01, 2011 at 03:17 PM
A common theme I heard was a 50% increase is great, but when it's from 1 to 2 what does it really say? I'm all for looking at the positives in a situation so I understand the approach. Lets look at it this way: a .6 program on pretty much any other station would be canceled immediately.
Posted by: BM | August 07, 2011 at 12:16 PM