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Indy 500 TV ratings continue to decline

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The balloons are released during opening ceremonies for the 102nd running of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 27, 2018.

The television ratings continue to fall for the Indianapolis 500. 

In ABC’s final broadcast of the race, the 102nd running of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" earned an overnight 3.4 Nielsen rating, down from last year, according to Adam Stern of SportsBusiness Journal. That figure is the lowest since the race started airing live in 1986.

Last year’s rating of 3.6 was also lower than the two previous years as the race earned a 4.1 Nielsen rating in 2016 and a 4.3 Nielsen rating in 2015. 

More:Will Power wins his first Indy 500

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However, the Indy 500 earned a higher rating than NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, which earned an overnight rating of 2.4. 

Sunday's race was the final ABC broadcast for the 500, which move to NBC starting next season. IndyCar and NBC agreed to a three-year pact in March. 

Insider:Exclusive deal with NBC the TV restart IndyCar needed

More:How IndyCar-NBC deal will affect local Indy 500 blackout

 

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