FOX's NASCAR Season Ends as Highest-Rated for 13th Year

NASCAR on FOX concluded its 2013 portion of the season as the highest-rated and most-watched sport in-season for the 13th straight season, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research. The complete 2013 NASCAR on FOX Sprint Cup season averaged a potent 4.8/10 household rating/share for the third time in four years (2010, 2012 & 2013).

In addition to its 13-year in-season reign, the 2013 NASCAR on FOX season also outperformed the NBA Playoffs on ABC by +41% (4.8 vs. 3.4), as well as complete NBA Conference Finals coverage on all networks by +7% (4.8 vs. 4.5). NASCAR on FOX is the only major sport on a broadcast network not to post a year-to-year ratings decline this year. NASCAR on FOX also continues to be a ratings force among male viewers watching events live. Compared to broadcast network prime time entertainment programming, live NASCAR on FOX viewership ranks No. 2 among Men 18-49 and Men 25-54 from February through the end of the broadcast season.

"NASCAR has been a bedrock of consistency in an unpredictable media environment, best exemplified by the sport's same strong rating in three of the last four years," said Michael Mulvihill, Senior Vice President, Programming & Research, FOX Sports. "This season we helped the sport introduce a new generation of car, which is by all measures a tremendous success. We also tried new formats for our biggest pre-race shows and came up with hit new segments like the Michael Waltrip prerace pit walk. With the upcoming launch of FOX Sports 1, our partnership with NASCAR becomes more essential to our overall success. NASCAR is poised for a tremendous future, and we're glad to be along for the ride."

NASCAR on FOX 2013 also posted ratings increases in five of the top seven and nine of the nation's 15 biggest markets, including Los Angeles (+6%) and Chicago (+32%). Overall, ratings grew +7% (4.5 vs. 4.2) in the country's 56 biggest markets compared to a year ago.

Sunday's NASCAR on FOX coverage of the FEDEX 400 from Dover, the network's final race of the year, posted a 3.8/9, with 6.0 million viewers, up +3% for the same race a year ago (3.7/9, 5.7 million viewers), and ranked as the highest-rated and most-watched event of the day for the 10th time (out of 13 races) this year. Viewership for Sunday's race opened with 5.2 million viewers at 1:19 PM ET and grew steadily throughout the broadcast, peaking at 8.0 million viewers from 4:30-4:36 PM ET as Tony Stewart passed Juan Pablo Montoya in the final three laps to take home the checkered flag.

Coverage of the 2013 NASCAR season continues on SPEED, and beginning Aug. 17, on FOX Sports 1, America's new sports network. Ongoing programming includes live coverage of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series practice and qualifying sessions, as well as thorough pre- and post-race programming. NASCAR Race HUB continues to air Monday through Friday, keeping fans current throughout the week.

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