MORE THAN 9.4 MILLION WATCHED EXAGGERATOR WIN PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC - UP 6% FROM AMERICAN PHAROAH'S 2015 VICTORY

NBC's Preakness Stakes Audience Topped 9 Million Viewers for 3rd Time in 4 Years - First Such Stretch in a Decade (2004-06)

Viewership Peaked at 11.4 Million As Exaggerator Crossed Finish Line at Muddy Pimlico Race Course

Record 3.1 Million Minutes Streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra

Exaggerator Runs Next in 148th Belmont Stakes, Saturday, June 11 at 5 PM ET on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. - May 24, 2016 - Exaggerator's muddy run to victory in Saturday's 141st Preakness Stakes on NBC averaged 9.4 million viewers - up 6% from Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah's first-place finish at Pimlico last year (8.9 million viewers), according to official national data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

NBC's average of 9.4 million viewers also marked the third time in four years that its Preakness Stakes audience topped nine million viewers (9.6 million for California Chrome in 2014; 9.7 million for Oxbow in 2013) - the first such stretch in a decade (9+ million in 2004-2006 for respective Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, and Bernardini wins in the Preakness).

Viewership peaked at 11.4 million viewers from 6:45-7 p.m. ET, as Exaggerator overtook Kentucky Derby-winner Nyquist for the Preakness victory. Nyquist finished third.

The 2016 Preakness Stakes on NBC (6:20-7:09 p.m. ET) posted a 5.8/14 HH rating -- up 5% from last year's race (5.5/13).

· Baltimore, the home of the Preakness Stakes, topped the metered markets with a 19.7 rating/38 share - the race's best rating in the city since 2009 and up 17% from last year. Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby, ranked second with a 14.6/28 - an increase of 23% from the 2015 Preakness. The top 20 markets are listed below.

RECORD 3.1 MILLION MINUTES LIVE STREAMED ON NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA: NBC Sports Live Extra's presentation of the Preakness Stakes ranks as the most streamed Preakness ever, delivering 3.1 million minutes, up 221% from last year. The stream also delivered a record 115,000 unique users. NBC Sports Live Extra is powered by Playmaker Media. Coverage included a mosaic of four different camera angles for the first time ever at the Preakness. The angles included the NBC broadcast, an isolation camera on Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, an overhead camera, and Larry Collmus' Preakness Stakes race call live as streamed by a camera in his booth at Pimlico. Click here for the mosaic replay.

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2016 PREAKNESS STAKES (Race Portion)
1. Baltimore 19.7/38
2. Louisville 14.6/28
3. Ft. Myers 13.6/24
4. Richmond 10.6/18
5. West Palm Beach 10.4/19
6. Washington, D.C. 9.6/20
7. Buffalo 9.3/17
8. Knoxville 9.2/16
9. Orlando 8.8/19
T10. Cincinnati 8.7/18
T10. Philadelphia 8.7/17
12. Raleigh 8.4/17
13. St. Louis 8.2/19
14. Indianapolis 8.0/16
15. Columbus 7.8/15
T16. Greenville 7.7/13
T16. Jacksonville 7.7/13
18. Hartford 7.4/15
19. Norfolk 7.3/13
T20. Dayton 7.2/15
T20. Denver 7.2/20

BELMONT STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, JUNE 11: In three weeks, Preakness Stakes-winner Exaggerator will highlight the field in the 148th Belmont Stakes. NBC Sports Group's coverage of the Belmont Stakes from Belmont Park in Elmont, NY, begins Friday, June 10 at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC presents the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11 at 5 p.m. ET, with coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

BELMONT STAKES
Date Time Event Network
Fri., June 10 4 p.m. Belmont Access NBCSN
Sat., June 11 2:30 p.m. Belmont Prep NBCSN
Sat., June 11 5 p.m. Belmont Stakes NBC
Sat., June 11 7 p.m. Belmont Post-Race Show NBCSN