Kentucky Derby Attracts 17.7 Million Viewers, Peaks at 21.8 Million

The 151st Kentucky Derby drew an average of 17.7 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, marking the largest audience for the event since 1989 and setting a new record for NBC since it began broadcasting the race in 2001. Viewership peaked at 21.8 million during the race, reflecting an 8% increase over last year's peak. Peacock's streaming audience also reached a record high, averaging 959,000 viewers, up 34% from the previous year. Sovereignty, jockeyed by Junior Alvarado, won the race by a length and a half in challenging conditions. The Kentucky Derby remains one of the most-watched non-football sporting events in the U.S., demonstrating continued strong appeal despite broader declines in television viewership. NBC will continue its coverage of the Triple Crown series with the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the coming weeks.