NBC's ratings for its Preakness coverage Saturday were up seven percent in household ratings compared to last year, according to Nielsen overnights provided by the network.
In Baltimore, race coverage on affiliate station WBAL was up 17 percent year to year, according to NBC. It was the best hometown rating for the race since 2009, according to NBC.
Here's the email from the network:
NBC posts 6.2 HH overnight/14 share for Exaggerator's Preakness Stakes win – up 7% from 5.8/14 for American Pharoah's win in '15
Overnight for NBC's Preakness Stakes peaked at 8.0/18 from 6:45-7pm, as Exaggerator ran to victory – up 5% from '15 peak for American Pharoah (7.6/17)
Top locals for NBC coverage of Preakness: Baltimore 19.7/38; Louisville 14.6/28; Ft. Myers 13.6/24; Richmond 10.6/18; West Palm 10.4/19
2016 Preakness posts best local NBC rating in host city of Baltimore (19.7/38) since 2009 & up 17% from last year (16.8/35)
Local NBC 14.6/28 rating for Preakness in Louisville – home of Kentucky Derby – up 23% from last year (11.9/22)
More locals for NBC's Preakness (#6-10): Wash D.C. 9.6/20; Buffalo 9.3/17; Knoxville 9.2/16; Orlando 8.8/19; Cincy 8.7/18; Philly 8.7/17