Indy 500 Hits 17-Year Viewership High with Fox Debut
The Indianapolis 500, easily one of the most prestigious events in motorsports, just hit a huge milestone. The 2025 race made its debut on the FOX network and drew the biggest audience in 17 years.
This massive viewership surge really shows how the event still captures people’s attention. Strategic moves in broadcasting have definitely helped expand its reach.
Record-Breaking Viewership
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The 2025 Indianapolis 500 pulled in an impressive 7,050,000 viewers. That’s the highest number since 2008.
Compared to last year’s 5,024,000 viewers, that’s a wild 40% jump. The broadcast hit its peak with a staggering 8,438,000 viewers between 4:15 and 4:30 PM ET.
Factors Contributing to the Surge
So, what fueled this spike in viewers?
- FOX Network Debut: Moving to FOX put the race in front of a wider audience, thanks to the network’s reach and relentless promotion.
- Exciting Race Dynamics: The race itself was a nail-biter, especially with drivers like Alex Palou grabbing his first Indy 500 win. That kind of drama keeps people glued to their screens.
- Enhanced Broadcast Quality: FOX stepped up the production game, using slick camera angles and sharp commentary. It made watching at home feel a lot more immersive.
Comparative Ratings
On Sunday night, May 25, 2025, the Indianapolis 500 outperformed every other network telecast in total viewers. Here’s how the other networks stacked up:
- TNT: 4.637 million viewers
- CBS: 3.266 million viewers
- ABC: 2.359 million viewers
- ESPN: 1.310 million viewers
- Fox News: 1.190 million viewers
- NBC: 1.063 million viewers
Adults 18-49 Demographic
In the adults 18-49 group, TNT surprisingly led with a 1.44 rating. TruTV and ESPN followed with 0.29 and 0.28 ratings.
FOX, even with its huge overall audience, landed at a 0.12 rating in this demographic. Maybe that says something about the race’s broader appeal?
Top Prime Time Telecasts
The NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Game 3, featuring the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers on TNT, was the top prime-time draw with 6.025 million viewers.
Other big broadcasts included:
- 60 Minutes Presents (CBS): 4.339 million viewers
- America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC): 3.001 million viewers
- MLB Sunday Night Baseball (ESPN): 1.674 million viewers
Adults 18-49 and 25-54 Ratings
For adults 18-49, the NBA Playoffs on TNT dominated with a 1.88 rating, which equals 2.518 million adults. The inside-the-NBA segment right after got a 0.95 rating.
In the adults 25-54 group, the NBA Playoffs led again with a 2.16 rating, or 2.664 million adults. The inside-the-NBA segment scored a 1.08 rating in this demo.
Household Ratings
Household ratings tell a different story. TNT pulled a 2.06 household rating, CBS followed with 1.99, and ABC had 1.23.
FOX News, NBC, and TLC rounded out the top six with 0.71, 0.65, and 0.56, respectively.
Sub-Demographic Insights
Let’s break it down even further by sub-demographics:
- Females 18-49: TNT led here with a 0.99 rating. ABC and CBS followed with 0.29 and 0.18.
- Males 18-49: TNT topped the chart at 1.74, while truTV and ABC trailed at 0.39 and 0.19.
- Females 18-34: TNT scored a 0.76 rating, with ABC and truTV at 0.23 and 0.12.
- Males 18-34: TNT dominated with a 1.34 rating. TruTV and TUDN followed with 0.28 and 0.18.
- Females 25-54: TNT led again at 1.14, with ABC and CBS at 0.37 and 0.30.
- Males 25-54: TNT hit a 2.01 rating, while truTV and ABC had 0.41 and 0.30.
Conclusion
The 2025 Indianapolis 500 pulled in record-breaking viewership numbers. FOX’s bold moves clearly paid off, and honestly, it feels like the event just keeps finding ways to stay relevant.
This year’s race drew the biggest audience in 17 years. If that’s not a sign of motorsport’s staying power, I’m not sure what is.
Curious about all the stats and extra details? You can check out the full report over at Programming Insider.
