America’s Cup Finding Its Audience

With significant investment in broadcast technology, and the high performance of the AC72, a goal of the 34th America’s Cup was to grow its television audience. However, it has been a slow climb, hampered in part due to earlier races available live online, with later races provided as tape-delayed network shows.

The most recent baseline was the 2007 Match in Valencia, Spain which typically averaged 250,000-300,000 viewers per broadcast show. After a slow start this summer, the audience in the United States is beginning to make the shift. Here are recent stats from the NBC Sports Network shows…

Challenger Semi-Finals – Tape delayed
Friday, August 9 – 53,000 viewers
Saturday, August 10 – 83,000 viewers (Luna Rossa wins series 4-0)

Challenger Finals – Tape delayed
Saturday, August 24 – 97,000 viewers
Sunday, August 25 – 127,000 viewers (ETNZ wins series 7-1)

With the 34th America’s Cup to be broadcast live now, the audience should increase further.

Here is the America’s Cup race schedule (best-of-17 series)

Saturday, Sept. 7: Final Race 1 (1:15 pm PT), Final Race 2 (2:15 pm PT)
Sunday, Sept. 8: Final Race 3 (1:15 pm PT), Final Race 4 (2:15 pm PT
Tuesday, Sept. 10: Final Race 5 (1:15 pm PT), Final Race 6 (2:15 pm PT)
Thursday, Sept. 12: Final Race 7 (1:15 pm PT), Final Race 8 (2:15 pm PT)
Saturday, Sept. 14: Final Race 9 (1:15 pm PT), Final Race 10* (2:15 pm PT)
Sunday, Sept. 15: Final Race 11* (1:15 pm PT), Final Race 12* (2:15 pm PT)
Monday, Sept. 16: Reserve Day
Tuesday, Sept. 17: Final Race 13* (1:15 pm PT), Final Race 14* (2:15 pm PT)
Wednesday, Sept. 18: Reserve Day
Thursday, Sept. 19: Final Race 15* (1:15 pm PT), Final Race 16* (2:15 pm PT)
Friday, Sept. 20: Reserve Day
Saturday, Sept. 21: Final Race 17* (1:15 pm PT)
Sunday, Sept. 22: Reserve Day
Monday, Sept. 23: Reserve Day
* If needed

Expect show times to begin earlier than the start times above. Click here for specific broadcast information (both network and program times) for all territories.