The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have begun with viewership showing a notable decline compared to last year, with the regular season averaging 2.7 million viewers across Fox, FS1, NBC, USA, Prime Video, and TNT/truTV, reflecting a 12% drop from the previous season. The opening playoff race at Darlington, broadcast on USA Network Sunday night, attracted 1.88 million viewers. This compares to last season’s first playoff race from Atlanta, which aired the weekend after Labor Day and drew 2.02 million viewers despite competing with NFL Week 1. The recent decline coincides with the start of a new media rights agreement, reducing broadcast TV exposure as NASCAR shifts focus toward younger audiences through streaming platforms and new formats like the In-Season Tournament.
IndyCar Sees Increased Ratings in Fox’s First Season
In contrast, Fox’s inaugural broadcasting of IndyCar has delivered strong ratings, averaging 1.36 million viewers over 17 races — an 18% increase from the combined 1.15 million audience on NBC and USA Network last year. The season finale in Nashville saw 1.14 million viewers, a significant jump from roughly half a million for last year’s finale, which aired opposite the NFL in mid-September on NBC. This marks the best IndyCar season viewership since 2008.
U.S. Open Draws Growing Audience, Reaching Multi-Year Highs
The U.S. Open golf tournament has also experienced audience growth, averaging 873,000 viewers through the third round across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. This is a 28% rise from the same period in 2024. The tournament’s coverage on Sunday by ABC attracted 2.2 million viewers, delivering the best Round of 16 viewing audience since 2015.
Shifts in Sports Broadcasting Reflect Changing Fan Engagement
The ongoing decline in NASCAR Cup Series playoff viewership contrasts with growth in other sports broadcasts like IndyCar and golf, highlighting a changing sports media environment where emerging platforms and events vie for fan attention. NASCAR’s reduced presence on traditional broadcast channels and increased emphasis on innovative formats appears to be reshaping its audience dynamics. How these trends will evolve remains to be seen, particularly as streaming continues to influence viewership habits across major sporting events.
