The Monaco Grand Prix ratings this past weekend improved versus low numbers in 2012, but failed to reach previous highs, overnight ratings show. As in 2012, the weather in the United Kingdom on the day of the race was very warm which no doubt hurt the ratings slightly.
Sky Sports F1’s live coverage averaged 855,000 viewers with an 11.3 percent share according to ITV Media’s top 10. What I do not know is what the average covers. It either covers 11:30 to 16:00 or 11:30 to 17:00, which is when Sky Sports F1 went off air in the end. If it is the former, then the entire average will be nearer 750,000 viewers, but we will only know that for definite when BARB updates next week with the official ratings. In terms of peak viewership, I think we are looking at between 1.5 million to 1.7 million viewers. Sky will be happy with that all considering, as the weather could have hit the Grand Prix harder. I should note that the ratings do not include anyone who watched via Sky Go or NOW TV, but they will only add about 100,000 viewers at most to the viewership numbers.
BBC One’s highlights programme averaged 3.11 million viewers from 17:35 to 19:05, a 22 percent share. The combined figure is therefore in the region of 3.9 million viewers, marginally up on 2012. I really don’t think you could have expected much more than that, it was a Bank Holiday weekend, the weather was fantastic so the Formula 1 was bound to be affected – as it was in 2009 and 2012. Here are the past Monaco Grand Prix ratings:
Monaco Grand Prix – Official Ratings
2002 – 4.16 million
2003 – 3.76 million
2004 – 3.19 million
2005 – 3.33 million
2006 – 2.64 million
2007 – 3.70 million
2008 – 3.98 million
2009 – 3.64 million
2010 – 4.74 million
2011 – 5.15 million
2012 – 3.77 million / 3.97 million (using ‘35 percent theory‘)
2013 – 3.96 million / 4.26 million*
* note, assuming that the programme average is indeed 855,000 viewers
Qualifying averaged 2.35 million on BBC One, with Sky’s live coverage bringing 413,000 viewers to the channel from 12:00 to 15:05. GP2 after the Formula 1 averaged 54,000 viewers. The combined Qualifying rating is therefore 2.76 million viewers, a nice rise on last year’s 2.49 million, and is the second highest Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying rating on record. It peaked with 3.66 million viewers – 2.80 million on BBC and 857,000 on Sky. Only 2011 recorded higher, that particular Qualifying session recording a mammoth 3.30 million viewers and a peak of 4 million viewers.
Looking ahead to Canada, and the rating will definitely be higher than last year as there will be live free to air coverage in primetime, which will help.
The 2012 Monaco Grand Prix ratings report can be found here. Note: The ratings information comes from Digital Spy, TV Ratings UK and BARB.
Motorsport Broadcasting 
Unique viewers down, combined viewers (many of whom watched both broadcaster’s programmes) slightly up.
The general media don’t report unique viewership numbers, so unfortunately it is impossible for me to report them! What were the numbers year-on-year and for 2011 if possible?
I think I may be misunderstanding something. How did you go from Sky’s average 855,000 viewers to peak viewing figures of 1.5 million to 1.7 million viewers?
That is on the basis of their previous average ratings from 2012, that is where the peak figure has tended to fall around about – so on the occasions where the average was ~0.8m, the peak was ~1.5m.
Thanks for the response, does the same apply to the BBC ratings? I see the BBC average was 3.11 million viewers but there is no peak figure mentioned. Would that therefore be around 6 million viewers?
No, BBC peak was probably around 4 million to 4.5 million.
Cheers.
I can’t stand Sky’s coverage as anyone reading this site will know but I do think that their coverage was slightly (only very slightly) better than usual.
Quali
The Hill opener was ok but was on the edge of cheese.
The Massa/Smedley piece was excellent, credit should be given to whoever set that up although in fairness it’s Smedley that makes it.
Race
The opening VT was fun but self indulgent and didn’t start the show off with a bang.
The George the Poet VT was ok but waaaaaaaayyyyyy too long.
The reflections piece with Prost and Irvine should have been the opener, a wasted opportunity and the usual poor editorial judgement from Sky.
The jetski VT was fun but if you’re going to do silly competitions with the drivers at least explain the rules!
I’m not a particular fan of the poetry VT’s with George (the first one being last year at the end of last season) but checking Twitter after the race and it seems I was in the minority there, as everyone was raving about it.
I think the one they did last your was their best VT, he’s a personal taste thing but I thought the way they edited last years George VT was better than anything else they did last season.
I wouldn’t have minded a reprise this year but the thing was 2min 30secs long, it’s a 1 -1.30min VT at best, it just went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on……….
The real waste of the weekend was the Irvine/Prost & Co piece, this could have been awesome edited differently yet was wasted as a filler piece.
I was asked just today why the Sky stuff looks so poor compared to the Beeb stuff and to be honest, it’s everything.