Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2025

SailGP scores largest American broadcast audience in league history with 1.784M tuning into CBS

by Laura Muma 14 Nov 2023 00:37 GMT
Switzerland SailGP Team helmed by Sebastien Schneiter lead the SailGP Fleet on Race Day 1 of the ROCKWOOL Italy Sail Grand Prix in Taranto, Italy © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP

SailGP, one of the world's fastest growing sport leagues, saw the largest American television audience in league history when 1.784 million viewers tuned into a CBS broadcast of the Spain Sail Grand Prix on Sunday, Nov. 5. The event, which was capped off by the U.S. SailGP Team earning its first victory in Season 4, saw a nine percent increase in viewership over last year's SailGP event in Spain and marked the most-watched sailing race in the U.S. since 1992.

SailGP managing director, Andy Thompson, said: "The viewership numbers achieved on CBS are a clear demonstration of the growing interest in SailGP in the United States. We're breaking records and rivaling some very long-established U.S. sports at what is an extremely exciting time for the league and the United States team in particular."

The victory in Spain was the first in over a year for the U.S. SailGP Team and propelled the squad to third place overall on the Season 4 leaderboard.

"SailGP is grand prix racing like you've never seen before," Thompson continued. "We are attracting an increasing number of fans with our adrenaline-fueled racing, where any of the competing teams can bring home the victory on any given weekend. We're looking forward to finishing Season 4 in the United States - with a major event in New York City in June 2024 before the season Grand Final in San Francisco in July 2024 - and we know thousands of fans won't just be watching from home but also heading out to support the U.S. team live from the shoreline."

In July, SailGP announced an increased partnership with CBS and CBS Sports including 12 dedicated hours on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+, doubling the network coverage from Season 3, and expanding to more than 50 hours of original programming across broadcast and CBS Sports Network.

The record-breaking audience is the latest milestone signifying that SailGP has arrived as a mainstream sport in the U.S. - as the league has expanded in Season 4 with a record 13 events across four continents - with events in major U.S. Cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Fans can tune in to watch every event in SailGP Season 4 on the CBS Sports Network including the upcoming Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas, December 9-10.

*SailGP Spain (Andalucia-Cadiz) on Sunday, 11/5/23 averaged 1.784m viewers on CBS from 5:00-6:00pm - making it the most-watched sailing race since 1992 (3.266m viewers for America's Cup on ABC on 5/9/1992 from 3:00-6:00pm). Sunday's 1.784m viewers was up +9% from last year's 1.636m viewers on Sunday, 11/13/22 for SailGP Spain (previously the most-watched sailing race since 1992).

Source: Nielsen NTI, Pre-DVR (05/09/92-12/25/05), LIVE+SD (12/26/05-11/05/23).

Related Articles

US SailGP team skipper "incredibly frustrated"
Hitting out at decision to keep two teams off the water US SailGP team skipper says the team is incredibly frustrated with the decision by event organisers not to launch two teams, both privately owned, excluding them from competing on Day 2. High winds early in the day and a lack of time are blamed. Posted on 3 Jun
US SailGP Team keen to get racing
After a regatta ending capsize in Bermuda, the US team are ready to bounce back in Halifax Returning to competition for the first time since crashing in Bermuda, Taylor Canfield and team are fired up to kick off to the North American leg of the SailGP Season 4 tour, the Rockwool Canada Sail Grand Prix in Halifax. Posted on 1 Jun
SailGP: Spectacular on board video of USA capsize
USA SailGP team has released spectacular on-board video coverage of their capsize in Bermuda USA SailGP team has released spectacular on-board video coverage of their capsize in Bermuda in Friday's third Practice session. Surprisingly given the violence of the capsize, none of the crew were injured. Posted on 4 May
U.S. debut in Dubai
Team takes podium position in the final fleet race "It's so energizing to finish our first event as a team with a third place in that final race," said Taylor Canfield, driver for the United States SailGP Team at the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas. Posted on 10 Dec 2023
United States SailGP Team's revamped line-up
First active athlete roster announced ahead of Dubai The revamped United States SailGP Team has announced its active athlete roster for the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas on Dec. 9 - 10. Posted on 7 Dec 2023
Cádiz victory catapults U.S. SailGP Team to third
Team dedicates the win to injured teammate Hans Henken Sailing with purpose this weekend at the Spain Sail Grand Prix, Jimmy Spithill led the United States SailGP Team to its first victory in over a year, dedicating the win to injured teammate Hans Henken. Posted on 15 Oct 2023
Spithill takes positives from new crew combo
As the US SailGP team go into Season 4 After a luck-lustre performance for much of the latter part of Season 3, US SailGP team skipper Jimmy Spithill, has taken some positives from the team's performance in the final series, and a third place in the final race with a new crew combination. Posted on 8 May 2023
SailGP's Grand Final weekend is here!
The final event of Season 3 takes place on iconic San Francisco Bay SailGP's 11th and final event of Season 3 takes place on iconic San Francisco Bay this weekend, May 6 - 7, at the Mubadala SailGP Season 3 Grand Final. Posted on 5 May 2023
Season 3 rollercoaster ride continues
An up-and-down event for the United States SailGP Team Rounding out an up-and-down event on a high note, Jimmy Spithill's United States SailGP Team finished the final fleet race in second place, but ultimately leave the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch with sixth-place overall. Posted on 19 Mar 2023
Spithill looks ahead to New Zealand
"We're still in the hunt for the Grand Final" Jimmy Spithill said the team is still in the hunt for a coveted place in the three-boat, winner-takes-all Season 3 Grand Final coming to San Francisco in early May, insisting, 'There are still a lot of points available'. Posted on 17 Mar 2023