Derby TV rating up 12 percent

The overnight television rating for Saturday's Kentucky Derby broadcast on NBC-TV was an 8.3, up 12 percent compared to last year's broadcast, according to figures released by NBC on Sunday.

The rating was tied for the highest Derby rating since 1992. In 2001, 2002, and 2004, the overnight rating for the broadcast was also an 8.3.

Overnight television ratings measure the number of estimated viewers in large U.S. markets, as determined by the broadcast research company Nielsen Media Research. Each overnight rating point is equivalent to approximately 667,000 households.

The broadcast, which ran from 5 to 6:30 p.m., had a share of 18. Share measures the percentage of televisions in use that were tuned to the broadcast.