NHRA's Historic Viewership Triumph: A New Era for Motorsport Enthusiasts!
Breaking Records and Challenging Perceptions
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has just shattered a significant milestone, achieving an unprecedented 2.07 million viewers for its Texas FallNationals broadcast on Fox. This remarkable feat not only sets a new record for NHRA but also surpasses NASCAR's recent Las Vegas race, which averaged 1.57 million viewers.
But here's where it gets controversial...
NHRA's success story began with the Texas Motorplex race, peaking at an astonishing 3.63 million viewers. This marks the first time an NHRA broadcast has captivated over two million fans, a significant achievement considering the NHRA US Nationals drew 1.04 million viewers just a few months ago.
Steve Reintjes, NHRA's Vice President of Broadcast, attributes this success to an exceptional production team, saying, "This record-setting broadcast is a testament to our team's unmatched commitment and passion for delivering drag racing action to our loyal fans."
And this is the part most people miss...
NHRA's triumph extends beyond a single race. It has consistently outperformed other motorsport series in the US, with NASCAR's Cup Series playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway averaging only 1.7 million viewers on USA Network. This marked a ten percent increase from the previous weekend's race at Charlotte Roval, also on USA Network.
However, a direct comparison with last year's playoff race at Las Vegas, which aired on NBC, is impossible due to the different broadcast channels. Nonetheless, NASCAR's playoffs are currently averaging 1.57 million viewers, with three races remaining in the season. If this trend continues, NASCAR's playoffs may average fewer than two million viewers.
In other news, the Bathurst 1000 in Australia drew its biggest television audience since 2016, with over two million viewers nationwide. The Supercars Championships race averaged 1.54 million viewers on the Seven Network, with an additional 459,000 viewers on Foxtel. Streaming figures also broke records, with Seven's 7Plus OTT platform delivering its highest audience outside of major sporting events like the Olympics or the Australian Football League Grand Final.
So, what does this all mean for the future of motorsport? Is NHRA's success a sign of changing viewer preferences? And will NASCAR's playoffs continue to see declining viewership? These are questions worth pondering as we navigate the ever-evolving world of motorsport broadcasting.
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