NEW YORK (AP) NBC's audience for Nyquist's victory in the Kentucky Derby has fallen by a half-million viewers a year after American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
Although racing was hoping for a rise in popularity on the heels of a Triple Crown, NBC said Tuesday that Saturday's Derby averaged 15.5 million viewers with 9.0 rating and 21 share. The 2015 Derby drew an average of 16 million viewers and a 9.6/23.
Nyquist, named for hockey player Gustav Nyquist, may have helped NBC's ratings for Game 5 of the Penguins-Capitals NHL playoff series. Televised after the Derby, it ranked as the second most-watched non-Stanley Cup Final game in at least 23 years, averaging 4.2 million viewers.
Ratings represent the percentage of U.S. homes with televisions tuned to a program. Shares measure the percentage in use at the time.
