We can put the blame on the fact MotoGPs Qatar round was broadcasted at 9pm (CET) and on Easter Sunday to boot, or that Valentino Rossi qualified 12th and his fan’s knew that there was very little to expect from him and decided to tune out, but no one really expected that TV ratings in Italy for the first race of the season would see such a drop in ratings.
This year Mediaset is broadcasting the entire race weekend in free-to-view for all three GP classes, all three free practices, qualifying sessions and warm-ups and the races are broadcasted simultaneously on two different channels (Mediaset’s contract with Dorna expires at the end of the year – and Sky wants it).
However, the first MotoGP race of the season under the spectacular floodlights and with the change in displacement and the addition of the CRTS wasn’t the usual snooze fest to watch – especially during the last laps, but it was a far cry from what Moto3 and Moto2 had to offer earlier in the evening.
Sunday night only 4.
830.
000 viewers equal to 19.
46% share watched Jorge Lorenzo win, compared to last year’s race (won by Casey Stoner) that was seen by 6.
083.
000 viewers with a share of 22,15% and that people is a drop of over 1.
2 million viewers.
The last time Sportmediaset saw another drop like this was in 2010 after Rossi broke his leg and this just proves that despite all the harsh criticisms that he received last year and especially after his very resigned Qatar post-race interview, Italy still wants their Rossi fix and see him up front and battling with the other aliens.