MLB Division Series Numbers Game (2003-2010)

Posted by | 09/30/2011 at 2:09 pm

An updated look at ratings and viewership for Major League Baseball Division Series games from 2003 to 2010.

The 2011 MLB Division Series, which begins Friday, will be the fifth to be televised exclusively by Turner Sports. Last year’s Division Series averaged a 2.8 U.S. rating and 4.434 million viewers on TBS, down 10% and 7%, respectively, from the previous year.

Since moving to Turner Sports, the Division Series has not been able to reach the heights of the FOX/ESPN years. From 2003 to 2006, Division Series games earned at least seven million viewers on 19 separate occasions (16 on FOX, 3 on ESPN). From 2007-2010, however, games hit or surpassed that mark only three times — Games 2, 3 and 4 of the 2007 Indians/Yankees ALDS.

One major culprit is the lack of competitive series. TBS has aired only one Game 5 since acquiring postseason rights (2010, TEX/TB: 6.410M), compared to four such games on FOX during its final four seasons televising the Division Series.

Of those four deciding games on FOX, one featured the Yankees (2005, LAA/NYY: 13.699M), another the Red Sox (2003, BOS/OAK: 13.027M), and a third the Cubs (2003, CHC/ATL: 15.416M).

The lack of deciding games corresponds to an increase in three-game sweeps. There were nine sweeps from 2007-10, compared to just five from 2003-06.

On the other end of the spectrum, nine Division Series games since 2007 have drawn fewer than three million viewers, compared to thirteen such games between 2003 and 2006.

2003 MLB DIVISON SERIES
Date Time Game
#
Series
 Net U.S. Rating Viewers (000)
Tue., 9/30/03 1 PM MIN 3, NYY 1
1
MIN 1-0
 ESPN
2.1
2,647
4 PM FLA 0, SF 2
1
SF 1-0
 ESPN
2.7
3,423
8 PM CHC 4, ATL 2
1
CHC 1-0
 FOX
7.5
10,864
Wed., 10/1/03 4 PM FLA 9, SF 5
2
TIE 1-1
 ESPN
2.4
3,072
7 PM CHC 3, ATL 5
2
TIE 1-1
 ESPN
5.1
7,432
10 PM BOS 4, OAK 5
1
OAK 1-0
 ESPN
3.3
4,344
Thu., 10/2/03 4 PM BOS 1, OAK 5
2
OAK 2-0
 ESPN2
1.9
2,733
8 PM MIN 1, NYY 4
2
TIE 1-1
 FOX
6.1
8,719
Fri., 10/3/03 4 PM SF 3, FLA 4
3
FLA 2-1
 ESPN2
2.4
3,381
8 PM ATL 1, CHC 3
3
CHC 2-1
 ESPN
5.4
8,126
Sat., 10/4/03 1 PM NYY 3, MIN 1
3
NYY 2-1
 ESPN
2.3
3,128
1 PM SF 6, FLA 7
4
FLA 3-1
 ESPN2
2.1
2,916
4 PM ATL 6, CHC 4
4
TIE 2-2
 FOX
6.0
8,770
7:30 PM OAK 1, BOS 3
3
OAK 2-1
 ESPN2
2.8
4,582
Sun., 10/5/03 1 PM OAK 4, BOS 5
4
OAK 2-2
 ESPN
2.4
3,398
4 PM NYY 8, MIN 1
4
NYY 3-1
 ESPN
2.8
4,010
7:30 PM CHC 5, ATL 1
5
CHC 3-2
 FOX
9.8
15,416
Mon., 10/6/03 8 PM BOS 4, OAK 3
5
BOS 3-2
 FOX
8.5
13,027

2004 MLB DIVISON SERIES
Date
Time
Game
#
Series
Net
U.S. Rating
Viewers (000)
Tue., 10/5/04 1 PM LA 3, STL 8
1
STL 1-0
 ESPN
1.4
1,869
4 PM BOS 9, ANA 3
1
BOS 1-0
 ESPN
2.3
3,136
8 PM MIN 2, NYY 0
1
MIN 1-0
 FOX
5.9
8,459
Wed., 10/6/04 4 PM HOU 9, ATL 3
1
HOU 1-0
 ESPN
2.4
3,118
7 PM MIN 6, NYY 7
2
TIE 1-1
 ESPN
4.7
6,811
10 PM BOS 8, ANA 3
2
BOS 2-0
 ESPN
2.6
3,782
Thu., 10/7/04 4 PM HOU 2, ATL 4
2
TIE 1-1
 ESPN
2.7
3,562
8 PM LA 3, STL 8
2
STL 2-0
 FOX
4.9
7,053
Fri., 10/8/04 4 PM ANA 6, BOS 8
3
BOS 3-0
 ESPN
3.0
4,135
8 PM NYY 8, MIN 4
3
NYY 2-1
 ESPN
3.5
5,058
Sat., 10/9/04 1 PM ATL 5, HOU 8
3
HOU 2-1
 ESPN2
1.9
2,617
4 PM NYY 6, MIN 5
4
NYY 3-1
 FOX
5.0
7,275
7:30 PM STL 0, LA 4
3
STL 2-1
 FOX
5.1
7,772
Sun., 10/10/04 1 PM ATL 6, HOU 5
4
TIE 2-2
 ESPN
2.2
3,106
7:30 PM STL 6, LA 2
4
STL 3-1
 FOX
5.6
8,706
Mon., 10/11/04 8 PM HOU 12, ATL 3
5
HOU 3-2
 FOX
5.3
7,981

2005 MLB DIVISON SERIES
Date
Time
Game
#
Series
Net
U.S. Rating
Viewers (000)
Tue., 10/4/05 1 PM SD 5, STL 8
1
STL 1-0
 ESPN
1.6
2,073
4 PM BOS 2, CHW 14
1
CHW 1-0
 ESPN
2.8
3,813
8 PM NYY 4, LAA 2
1
NYY 1-0
 FOX
6.0
8,985
Wed., 10/5/05 4 PM HOU 10, ATL 5
1
HOU 1-0
 ESPN
2.4
3,204
7 PM BOS 4, CHW 5
2
CHW 2-0
 ESPN
4.4
6,364
10 PM NYY 3, LAA 5
2
TIE 1-1
 ESPN
3.8
5,524
Thu., 10/6/05 4 PM SD 2, STL 6
2
STL 2-0
 ESPN2
1.7
2,280
8 PM HOU 1, ATL 7
2
TIE 1-1
 FOX
5.3
7,671
Fri., 10/7/05 4 PM CHW 5, BOS 3
3
CHW 3-0
 ESPN2
3.3
4,494
8 PM LAA 11, NYY 7
3
LAA 2-1
 ESPN
4.9
7,212
Sat., 10/8/05 7:30 PM ATL 3, HOU 7
3
HOU 2-1
 FOX
4.3
6,410
11 PM STL 7, SD 4
3
STL 3-0
 ESPN
1.8
2,461
Sun., 10/9/05 1 PM ATL 6, HOU 7
4
HOU 3-1
 ESPN
3.2
4,866
7:30 PM LAA 2, NYY 3
4
TIE 2-2
 FOX
8.1
12,564
Mon., 10/10/05 8 PM NYY 3, LAA 5
5
LAA 3-2
 FOX
8.9
13,699

2006 MLB DIVISION SERIES
Date
Time
Game
#
Series
Net
U.S. Rating
Viewers (000)
Tue., 10/3/06 1 PM OAK 3, MIN 2
1
OAK 1-0
 ESPN
1.4
1,777
4 PM STL 5, SD 1
1
STL 1-0
 ESPN
2.0
2,534
8 PM DET 4, NYY 8
1
NYY 1-0
 FOX
5.6
8,358
Wed., 10/4/06 1 PM OAK 5, MIN 2
2
OAK 2-0
 ESPN
1.5
1,972
4 PM LAD 5, NYM 6
1
NYM 1-0
 ESPN
2.5
3,266
Thu., 10/5/06 1 PM DET 4, NYY 3
2
TIE 1-1
 ESPN
2.2
2,890
4 PM STL 2, SD 0
2
STL 2-0
 ESPN
2.6
3,477
8 PM LAD 1, NYM 4
2
NYM 2-0
 FOX
4.5
6,392
Fri., 10/6/06 4 PM MIN 3, OAK 8
3
OAK 3-0
 ESPN
2.3
3,029
8 PM NYY 0, DET 6
3
DET 2-1
 ESPN
4.4
6,561
Sat., 10/7/06 1 PM SD 3, STL 1
3
STL 2-1
 ESPN2
1.5
2,125
4 PM NYY 3, DET 8
4
DET 3-1
 FOX
4.5
6,646
8 PM NYM 9, LAD 5
3
NYM 3-0
 FOX
4.5
6,775
Sun., 10/8/06 8 PM SD 2, STL 6
4
STL 3-1
 FOX
4.8
7,106

2007 MLB DIVISON SERIES
Date
Time
Game
#
Series
Net
U.S. Rating
Viewers (000)
Wed., 10/3/07 3 PM COL 4, PHI 2
1
COL 1-0
 TBS
2.2
3,171
6:30 PM LAA 0, BOS 4
1
BOS 1-0
 TBS
3.7
5,460
10 PM CHC 1, ARI 3
1
ARI 1-0
 TBS
3.4
5,133
Thu., 10/3/07 3 PM COL 10, PHI 5
2
COL 2-0
 TBS
2.3
3,298
6:30 PM NYY 3, CLE 12
1
CLE 1-0
 TBS
4.5
6,683
10 PM CHC 4, ARI 8
2
ARI 2-0
 TBS
2.6
3,735
Fri., 10/5/07 5 PM NYY 1, CLE 2
2
CLE 2-0
 TBS
4.9
7,578
8:30 PM LAA 3, BOS 6
2
BOS 2-0
 TBS
4.2
6,386
Sat., 10/6/07 6 PM ARI 5, CHC 1
3
ARI 3-0
 TBS
3.0
4,670
9:30 PM PHI 1, COL 2
3
COL 3-0
 TBS
2.8
4,484
Sun., 10/7/07 3 PM BOS 9, LAA 1
3
BOS 3-0
 TBS
2.8
4,201
6:30 PM CLE 4, NYY 8
3
CLE 2-1
 TBS
5.4
8,460
Mon., 10/8/07 7:30 PM CLE 6, NYY 4
4
CLE 3-1
 TBS
5.9
9,232

2008 MLB DIVISON SERIES
Date
Time
Game
#
Series
Net
U.S. Rating
Viewers (000)
Wed., 10/1/08 3 PM MIL 1, PHI 3
1
PHI 1-0
 TBS
2.0
2,764
6:30 PM LAD 7, CHC 2
1
LAD 1-0
 TBS
3.5
5,381
10 PM BOS 4, LAA 1
1
BOS 1-0
 TBS
3.0
4,442
Thu., 10/2/08 2:30 PM CHW 4, TB 6
1
TB 1-0
 TBS
2.0
2,610
6 PM MIL 2, PHI 5
2
PHI 2-0
 TBS
2.7
4,196
9:30 PM LAD 10, CHC 3
2
LAD 2-0
 TBS
2.6
4,024
Fri., 10/3/08 6 PM CHW 2, TB 6
2
TB 2-0
 TBS
2.6
3,895
9:30 PM BOS 7, LAA 5
2
BOS 2-0
 TBS
3.3
5,268
Sat., 10/4/08 6:30 PM PHI 1, MIL 4
3
PHI 2-1
 TBS
2.9
4,573
10 PM CHC 1, LAD 3
3
LAD 3-0
 TBS
3.2
5,224
Sun., 10/5/08 1 PM PHI 6, MIL 2
4
PHI 3-1
 TBS
1.5
2,220
4:30 PM TB 3, CHW 5
3
TB 2-1
 TBS
2.2
3,352
7:50 PM LAA 5, BOS 4
3
BOS 2-1
 TBS
3.9
6,199
Mon., 10/6/08 5 PM TB 6, CHW 2
4
TB 3-1
 TBS
2.2
3,096
8:30 PM LAA 2, BOS 3
4
BOS 3-1
 TBS
3.6
5,720

2009 MLB DIVISON SERIES
Date
Time
Game
#
Series
Net
U.S. Rating
Viewers (000)
Wed., 10/7/09 2:30 PM COL 1, PHI 5
1
 PHI 1-0 TBS
2.0
2,758
6:00 PM MIN 2, NYY 7
1
 NYY 1-0 TBS
4.3
6,607
9:30 PM STL 3, LAD 5
1
 LAD 1-0 TBS
3.3
4,973
Thu., 10/8/09 2:30 PM COL 5, PHI 4
2
 TIE 1-1 TBS
2.2
2,955
6:00 PM STL 2, LAD 3
2
 LAD 2-1 TBS
3.5
5,175
9:30 PM BOS 0, LAA 5
2
 LAA 1-0 TBS
3.0
4,437
Fri., 10/9/09 6:00 PM MIN 3, NYY 4
2
 NYY 2-0 TBS
4.1
6,484
9:30 PM BOS 1, LAA 4
2
 LAA 2-0 TBS
3.3
5,069
Sat., 10/10/09 6:00 PM LAD 5, STL 1
3
 LAD 3-0 TBS
2.6
4,021
Sun., 10/11/09 12:00 PM LAA 7, BOS 6
3
 LAA 3-0 TBS
2.1
2,936
7 PM NYY 4, MIN 1
3
 NYY 3-0 TBS
4.1
6,791
10:30 PM PHI 6, COL 5
3
 PHI 2-1 TBS
2.7
4,084
Mon., 10/12/09 6:00 PM PHI 5, COL 4
4
 PHI 3-1 TBS
3.2
5,204

2010 MLB DIVISON SERIES
Date
Time
Game
#
Series
Net
U.S. Rating
Viewers (000)
Wed., 10/6/10 1:30 PM TEX 5, TB 1
1
TEX 1-0
 TBS
1.6
2,244
5 PM CIN 0, PHI 4
1
PHI 1-0
 TBS
2.7
4,209
8:30 PM NYY 6, MIN 4
1
NYY 1-0
 TBS
4.3
6,914
Thu., 10/7/10 2:30 PM TEX 6, TB 0
2
TEX 2-0
 TBS
1.8
2,421
6 PM NYY 5, MIN 2
2
NYY 2-0
 TBS
3.5
5,314
9:30 PM ATL 0, SF 1
1
SF 1-0
 TBS
3.1
4,888
Fri., 10/8/10 6 PM CIN 4, PHI 7
2
PHI 2-0
 TBS
3.1
5,024
9:30 PM ATL 5, SF 4
2
TIE 1-1
 TBS
3.0
4,774
Sat., 10/9/10 5 PM TB 6, TEX 3
3
TEX 2-1
 TBS
2.2
3,513
8:30 PM MIN 1, NYY 6
3
NYY 3-0
 TBS
3.0
4,810
Sun., 10/10/10 1 PM TB 5, TEX 2
4
TIE 2-2
 TBS
1.5
2,219
4:30 PM SF 3, ATL 2
3
SF 2-1
 TBS
2.6
4,238
8 PM PHI 2, CIN 0
3
PHI 3-0
 TBS
2.8
4,653
Mon., 10/11/10 7:30 PM SF 3, ATL 2
4
SF 3-1
 TBS
3.0
4,667
Tue., 10/12/10 8 PM TEX 5, TB 1
5
TEX 3-2
 TBS
4.1
6,410

(Information from Nielsen Wire, Turner Sports, Media Life Magazine)

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