NBC SPORTS DELIVERS 14.5 MILLION VIEWERS FOR KENTUCKY DERBY, AS THE "RUN FOR THE ROSES" RETURNS TO ITS TRADITIONAL FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY DATE

NBC's TV-Only Kentucky Derby Coverage Peaked at 15.7 Million Viewers as Medina Spirit Raced to Victory, Delivering Bob Baffert's Record 7th Kentucky Derby Win

2021 Kentucky Derby Draws More Viewers Than All Awards Shows for First Time Ever & is NBC's Most-Watched Program since NFL Divisional Playoffs in January

NBC Sports Digital Sets Kentucky Derby Record

The Preakness Stakes is Sat., May 15 at 5 p.m. ET on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. - May 4, 2021 - NBC Sports' presentation of the 147th Kentucky Derby averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 14.5 million viewers as the "Run for the Roses" returned to its traditional first Saturday in May date - marking a 54% increase from last year's event (9.4 million on Sept. 5), according to official national data provided by Nielsen and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

Viewership peaked at 15.7 million viewers from 6:45-7 p.m. ET on NBC as Medina Spirit mounted a wire-to-wire victory and trainer Bob Baffert won the event for a record seventh time.

The TV-only average audience of 14.4 million viewers topped all entertainment awards shows for the first time ever and marked NBC's most watched broadcast since the NFL Divisional Playoffs in January.

NBC Sports Digital's presentation of the Kentucky Derby delivered a record Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 139,300 viewers for the event via the NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com.

The NBC-TV household rating for the broadcast (6:31-7:18 p.m. ET) was a 7.1/22.

146TH PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 15: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit attempts the next step in his Triple Crown quest. NBC Sports' coverage of The 146th Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins Friday, May 14 at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 15 at 5 p.m. ET, with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

PREAKNESS STAKES COVERAGE
Date Time Event Network
Fri., May 14 5 p.m. Black-Eyed Susan Stakes NBCSN
Sat., May 15 2 p.m. Preakness Saturday NBCSN
Sat., May 15 5 p.m. Preakness Stakes NBC

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2021 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)
1. Louisville 28.7/59
2. Ft. Myers 18.2/36
3. Knoxville 16.2/30
4. West Palm Beach 15.5/35
5. Cincinnati 15.1/36
6. Cleveland 14.9/35
7. Detroit 14.0/32
8. Providence 13.3/31
T9. Indianapolis 13.1/32
T9. Buffalo 13.1/29

--NBC SPORTS--