Latest Edition of ‘Baseball Night’ Earns Solid Numbers Despite Competition

Posted by | 06/11/2012 at 11:49 pm

The latest edition of ‘Baseball Night in America’ held up fairly well opposite hefty competition.

Regional MLB action featuring Mets/Yankees in 48% of markets drew a 2.6 overnight rating on FOX Saturday night, up 37% from afternoon coverage featuring Cubs/Cardinals in week ten last season (1.9), and up 44% from afternoon coverage featuring Phillies/Red Sox in week ten of the 2010 season (1.8).

The 2.6 is the second-highest of the season for a primetime MLB telecast on FOX (four telecasts). The previous primetime windows drew overnights of 2.8 (June 2), 2.3 (May 26) and 2.4 (May 19).

Saturday’s telecast aired opposite Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on NBC (2.6) and Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on ESPN (9.1). Coverage the previous week faced lower rated NHL and NBA games.

This is the third straight year FOX has featured Yankees/Mets in primetime. Last year’s game between the rivals, which aired in 36% of markets, drew a 3.4 overnight. The 2010 game, which aired in 49% of markets, drew a 3.6.

(Saturday’s overnight from Sports Business Daily)

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  • ZabriskiePt

    According to sbnation.com (http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/6/10/3076491/stanley-cup-finals-tv-ratings-game-5-beats-baseball-hits-series-high), Baseball drew a 2.4, while Stanley Cup a 2.6.
    That said, I think it’s pretty impressive that Regular season Baseball managed to win or, at least, compete head-to-head with NHL’s marquee event.
    In the last weeks I heard speculations from some medias about NHL’s growing popularity and the supposed smaller gap compared to NBA’s. The reality is that NBA, as shown during Playoffs, is in good shape, driven by some stars capable to carry interest (and TV ratings) up. Baseball, a whole different beast (less based on individuals’ star power, even though the young Strasburgs, Harpers and Trouts give some hope), is experiencing some difficulties drawing viewers on national TV, but it seems it’s drawing fairly well on local TV (see recent bids for local TV rights) and is enjoying an attendance boom. As for Playoffs, Baseball will draw good numbers outside the World Series, comparable to those of the NBA, only if teams in large markets or deeply rooted in their local communities will be in the mix.
    But NHL is showing that even its most important event, if not between a small number of popular teams, has difficulties competing against Regular (first half of the) Season Baseball matchups. I think Hockey has to be more and more worried about the growing popularity of Soccer, international and even at the MLS level.