• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 30, 2025

Kentucky Derby Looks To Continue Viewership Growth Despite No Live Fans

  • For this year’s Derby, the remote production will be based in Stamford, Conn.
  • Viewership for the Derby has been on the rise, with 16.5 million people tuning in last year.
Pat McDonogh / Courier Journal

For the first time since 1945, the Kentucky Derby will not be held on its typical first Saturday in May. Instead, the 146th race will take place Sept. 5 in a fanless Churchill Downs.

The Derby was postponed earlier this year as the pandemic raged through the country, canceling live events and restricting large gatherings. But as the lockdown measures have eased, the Derby has been moved to the first Saturday in September — a historic first.  

But this time around, the Derby will have a different atmosphere without the crowds cheering from the stands, long lines at the betting windows, mint juleps and extravagant hats. Additionally, NBC has had to creatively adjust the Derby’s production plan. 

Over the years, Derby broadcasts have heavily relied on the crowds and electric ambience to drive viewership as any other major sporting event, but this year’s event will be broadcast remotely from NBC’s Stamford, Conn. facility. NBC will have audio and approximately 30 cameras on-site in Louisville, Ky., but the production will be done in NBC’s Sports Production Operations Center utilizing a series of mobile units.

NBC is relying on mic’d up jockeys to fill in some of the ambiance during the race. “We hope to provide a little bit more of an intimate experience without that crowd roar,” said Rob Hyland, coordinating producer of NBC’s horse racing coverage.

Viewership for the Derby has been on the rise, with 16.5 million people tuning in last year. Analysts expect the numbers to be high this year as well as more people will be inside their homes due to the pandemic. 

“Parties in the pandemic are limited. We are absolutely getting in front of the television for special events,” said LeslieAnne Wade, managing partner at Wade Media Management. “It should be the most-watched event of the weekend, despite all of the other stuff going on — NBA and NHL playoffs, MLB, PGA Tour Championship and beginning of the NASCAR playoffs.”

With a socially distant Derby this year, broadcasters are also going the extra mile to keep the fans engaged. “We’re going to be looking around the country at how Derby fans are celebrating the day. We have live remotes in Denver, Los Angeles, and Saratoga with live view cameras, providing imagery for some socially distanced gatherings that are outside,” Hyland said. “One of them, I believe, is a drive-in sort of movie type experience for the broadcast.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
Leo Messi

TNT, Club World Cup Ride Messi to Surprisingly Solid Debut Ratings

TNT Sports carries about a third of matches in the U.S.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
June 24, 2025

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.
June 17, 2025

Zaslav Takes Pay Cut, TNT Sports Future Unclear in WBD Shake-Up

The TNT Sports parent company retools its executive pay after shareholder pushback.