NASCAR ends Prime run at Pocono with 1.89M viewers, down 22% from last year's USA Network race
Last Sunday's Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway, which aired on Amazon Prime Video, attracted 1.87 million viewers, a 22 percent decline from the 2.4 million who watched last year's USA Network telecast of this race.
This transition to streaming is both groundbreaking and creates hurdles for NASCAR and Amazon, who are in their inaugural season in a landmark agreement of live Cup Series broadcasts that began earlier this year.
Early streaming experiment reveals both promise and challenges
New production touches like HDR video, drone shots, and side-by-side commercials -- similar to those featured in Amazon's Thursday Night Football presentation -- made their streaming debut during the Amazon broadcast, as did another TNF aspect with frequent commercial breaks.
— SportsonPrime (@SportsonPrime)
These additions, along with the overall analytics integration, have been lauded by critics, but the modest viewership of 1.87 million is a reminder that it remains a while before live sports streaming reaches the same kind of audience scale inherent in traditional cable. But the decline is emblematic of a changing time for audiences consuming sports content and not necessarily showing up as well for major network broadcasts , and even some cable races.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Here's What Solar Batteries In Pale Might Cost You In 2024 - Check Prices
Solar Battery | Search ads
Click Here
Undo
This Pocono race was the 17th of the 2025 Cup Series and the last of the first In-Season Challenge seeding races. Chase Briscoe led the way on track, with booth announcers Adam Alexander, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Steve Letarte bringing it to the viewers at home, while Kim Coon, Marty Snider, and Trevor Bayne manned the pit road. Their chemistry was often talked about, though such was the nature of the streaming experience, with its questions of reach contrasted against the comfort of cable television.
Audience numbers reflect a bigger transition in sports broadcasting
The Pocono race last summer was also shown on USA Network, still a staple through most cable providers, and drew approximately 2.4 million viewers. And it gave it broader exposure than a traditional streaming show might often receive, especially with older and less streaming-savvy demographics who might not be rushing to sign up for streaming packages. The 22% drop in viewers says more about distribution changes than declining interest.
It still puts pressure on NASCAR and Amazon to find that sweet spot of improving production at the expense of accessibility.
Also Read:
NASCAR Rumors: Corey Heim emerges as frontrunner for 23XI Racing's No. 35 Toyota seat
The seven-race deal for the 2025 season included exclusive coverage of practice, qualifying, and the Budweiser Shootout kicks off with the Coca-Cola 600. The Prime deal fits with larger trends around digital streaming, but at least based on Pocono, the number still needs some work. To extend the reach even further, promotional efforts may increase and provide hybrid access, on cable or broadcast over-the-air, with streaming could be part of the mix.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
This Bezos-backed EV startup is betting you'll pay extra for a stereo in your petite pickup
When Will Haseltine saw images online of a small, boxy electric pickup from startup Slate Auto this past spring, he got on the waitlist right away. The sparse interior and crank windows reminded him of the no-frills pickups he grew up around in Memphis, Tennessee - but he was most enamored with the sub-$20,000 price tag. That price, though, factored in a $7,500 federal tax break, which is set to expire Sept. 30, a casualty of the budget package U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law earlier this month. Now Haseltine isn't sure the truck will fit his budget when it comes out, expected late next year. "The Slate was the first time that I looked at a car, wanted it, and could also really make it happen," said Haseltine, a 39-year-old musical instrument technician. Without the tax credit, he said: "That's just plain too much." Michigan-based Slate has raised $700 million from investors, including founder Jeff Bezos, and has racked up more than 100,000 reservations for its cars. But the company is launching into a tough U.S. market. A few years ago, the electric-vehicle space was awash in hopeful entrepreneurs looking to cash in on the global transition to electric cars. But U.S. EV sales growth has cooled as consumer interest has faded. The loss of federal tax breaks will further hurt demand, auto executives and analysts predict. Like other EV startups, Slate likely faces a long road to profitability. The EV business has proven to be a money loser for most industry players, partly because batteries remain relatively expensive. Even in China, where smaller, inexpensive EVs have proliferated and companies enjoy a cost advantage over Western automakers, most are unprofitable. Slate founders believe the company can overcome those obstacles by offering something that is in short supply in today's U.S. car market: affordability. The average new-vehicle selling price is above $45,000. "We are building the affordable vehicle that has long been promised but never delivered," Slate CEO Chris Barman said at a Detroit conference in July. The company has a chance to fill a void left by Tesla, which has backtracked on plans to introduce a mid-$20,000s electric vehicle. The startup has taken a bare-bones approach to its two-seat pickup, which is slightly smaller than a Honda Civic hatchback. How bare-bones? A stereo and power windows will cost extra. Slate hasn't disclosed the cost of such add-ons. 'It's a cool idea' Slate's creation started with an idea from Miles Arnone, the CEO of Re:Build Manufacturing, a Massachusetts-based startup that includes several former Amazon employees. Arnone believed workers needed better access to affordable vehicles. Arnone shared his idea with Jeff Wilke, the company's chairman and a former Amazon executive, and eventually, a small team was formed. The group hired Barman, who spent most of her career as an engineering executive at Fiat Chrysler, now part of Stellantis. Barman told Reuters recently that Slate will be able to absorb the loss of the $7,500 tax credit because the truck's price still will undercut competitors. The company plans to build the pickup at an old catalog factory in Warsaw, Indiana. Executives are taking steps to hold down costs, starting with a simplified design that uses about 500 parts in the truck's assembly, compared with a few thousand for a traditional truck. The plan to build all of its trucks in a basic package - what the company calls a "SKU of one" - allows customers to choose to add a stereo, center console, special lighting, and other features later. The pickup will be built with composite body panels in gray, with an option for a vinyl wrap. That will sidestep the need for a paint shop, which is one of the most expensive investments in a typical car factory. Slate's minimalist approach is a leap of faith that Americans will forgo creature comforts they have been increasingly willing to splurge on. Last year, U.S. buyers spent 33per cent above the base price on average, springing for higher-end trim packages and extra features, according to . That was up from 28per cent in 2014. But there is mounting evidence that new cars are becoming out of reach for many Americans. That could worsen under the effects of the Trump administration's tariffs, which threaten to increase prices on popular budget cars imported from Mexico, Korea and elsewhere. From that standpoint, Slate's price-conscious pickup might be hitting at the right time, said Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific. "There's a growing appetite, especially among younger drivers, for vehicles that are more honest, more modular and less over-engineered," he said. "Slate taps right into that." Traditional automakers and startups have found mixed success rolling out larger electric pickup trucks in recent years. Now, startups like Slate and California-based Telo are focusing on smaller electric pickups. In a town hall meeting in early May, Ford CEO Jim Farley and Executive Chair Bill Ford told employees they admired the company's customer-centered ethos and focus on affordability. Tim Kuniskis, Stellantis' head of American brands, called Slate "super interesting" at a June event, while also questioning how affordable it would be for some shoppers once they added all the options they wanted. "The idea behind it, we've talked about that idea a million times," he said. "It's a cool idea."
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Ty Gibbs Turns $1M NASCAR In-Season Tournament Challenge Win into a Heartfelt Post-Race Gesture
Image via Imagn: Ty Gibbs Ty Gibbs scored big at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning NASCAR's first-ever In-Season Tournament and earning a $1 million prize, along with a black-and-gold trophy, a custom AEW wrestling belt, and a commemorative ring. Gibbs, the sixth seed, beat Ty Dillon in the five-race elimination challenge, finishing 21st while Dillon came in 28th. But here's the catch: Gibbs didn't take all the cash home. So what did he do with it? Ty Gibbs Vows to Donate $10,000 to Charity Following Big Win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway The 22-year-old dominated NASCAR's In-Season Tournament with speed, smart pit stops, and top-10 finishes. In the final, he faced surprise finalist Ty Dillon, the 32nd seed, who upset big names like Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski. However, the No. 10 Chevy driver struggled with car damage following a restart incident on Lap 56 and was three laps down in 28th. Dillon's dream run of knocking out Hamlin in the opening round at EchoPark Speedway and Keselowski at the Chicago Street Course ended in Indy, as Gibbs claimed the $1 million prize. However, Gibbs' classy post-race gesture and interview with TNT Sports were the talk of the town. 'Super cool. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Foods That Help In Healing Knee Pain Naturally | Zen Life Mag Undo Very honored to be in this position. Thank you to all of NASCAR and TNT Sports for allowing us to be able to do this. It's awesome to win this and super cool to be in this position. A million bucks is a lot of money. I'm going to give $10,000 to wherever Ty Dillon wants to choose to give to charity.' He also added, 'I told the broadcast in the other show… our sponsor, SAIA, challenged Ty Dillon's sponsor; whoever loses gives ten thousand dollars for Toys for Tots. And I wanna put another ten on top of that. Wherever Ty Dillon wants it to go, it's his choice.' Gibbs was actually referring to a fun sponsor-driven side bet tied to the In-Season Challenge final, where the losing driver's sponsor would donate $10,000 to charity. Ty Dillon is in Good Spirits After Missing Out on $1 Million Prize While Ty Dillon was happy with Ty Gibbs' charitable gesture, it didn't soften the sting of narrowly missing out on the $1 million prize. In an interview with he reflected on his loss but was gracious in defeat. 'It's painful right now that we didn't win the whole thing. But it definitely doesn't overshadow how much this whole run has meant for us and our team, our sponsors. We're grateful, man. It's a good boost of energy. Hopefully, we'll finish out the year strong (he is currently in 32nd place) because of it. I believe in our team and what the future holds. So today was tough, but you know, this run has been really great and I appreciate it. ' Dillon's comments showed respect for the new In-Season Tournament format, which brought fresh energy to NASCAR's mid-season stretch. Despite driving for a smaller outfit like Kaulig Racing, Dillon got a rare month in the NASCAR spotlight. Also read: Valentina Shevchenko Embraces 'Self-Expression' After Bold Move to OnlyFans for Exclusive Content Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Bubba Wallace makes history as first Black driver to conquer Indianapolis Motor Speedway's iconic oval stage
Bubba Wallace. Image via: Darron Cummings/ AP Bubba Wallace etched his name into NASCAR history on Sunday with a gripping victory at the Brickyard 400, becoming the first Black driver to win on the legendary 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With fuel concerns, a late rain delay, and back-to-back overtimes testing every nerve, Wallace held off defending champion Kyle Larson to clinch his biggest Cup Series win yet. Bubba Wallace rewrites the script with an astonishing win After climbing out of his No. 23 Toyota, Wallace took a moment to soak in what he had just accomplished. His raw emotion said it all. 'This one's really cool,' Wallace said (via AP). 'Coming off Turn 4, I knew I was going to get there — unless we ran out of gas. I was surprised I wasn't crying like a little baby.' But the win didn't come easily. Larson had trimmed a 5-second gap to under 3 seconds with six laps remaining when rain brought the race to a halt. As cars sat parked on pit lane, Wallace mentally recalibrated. 'The whole time I'm thinking are we going? Are we not? I will say I leaned more towards 'I know we're going to go back racing. Be ready. Don't get complacent here.'' When the green flag returned, Wallace surged ahead on the first restart, only for a crash behind him to force a second overtime. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo That left his crew scrambling to calculate whether there was enough fuel to finish. He risked everything by staying out, and the gamble paid off. Bubba Wallace's Brickyard win ends 100-race drought, fuels 23XI momentum and delivers powerful message beyond racing Sunday's triumph snapped Wallace's 100-race winless streak, dating back to Kansas in 2022. It was his third Cup Series win overall, but his first at one of NASCAR's four crown jewel events. It also locked him into the playoffs and delivered a major boost to 23XI Racing — co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin — in the midst of an ongoing legal dispute with NASCAR. Even Larson tipped his hat to Wallace after the race, admitting he had no answer for the No. 23's strategy and execution. 'Congrats to Bubba. That's so cool. This is a big race, and he's a good dude,' Larson said. Also Read: Paige Bueckers and A'ja Wilson share courtside moments with legendary athlete Usain Bolt as Aces beat Wings FAQs What race did Bubba Wallace just win? The Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Why is Wallace's win historic? He became the first Black driver to win on the iconic 2.5-mile oval. How many career Cup Series wins does Bubba Wallace have now? Three, including this Brickyard victory. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
