FOX was happy to tout an increase in ratings for Game 1 of the NLCS, but the game was not exactly a ratings magnet.
Game 1 of the Cardinals/Giants National League Championship Series drew a 4.1 rating and 6.8 million viewers Sunday night, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 17% in ratings and 18% in viewership from Tigers/Rangers Game 1 last year (3.5, 5.770M), but down 2% and 5%, respectively, from Giants/Phillies Game 1 in 2010 (4.2, 7.126M).
The 2010 and 2011 games aired on Saturday nights.
Compared to Game 1 of last year’s Cardinals/Brewers NLCS on TBS (2.1, 3.350M), ratings and viewership increased 95% and 103%, respectively.
Though up substantially from last year, Cardinals/Giants put up surprisingly low numbers for a Sunday night game with an NFL lead-in. The last such LCS telecast — Giants/Phillies Game 2 in 2010 — drew a much stronger 5.3 and 8.835 million viewers.
In addition, the game underperformed relative to other LCS openers on FOX. The only LCS Game 1 to earn a lower rating or fewer viewers on the network was last year’s previously mentioned Tigers/Rangers game.
Game 2 Overnight Down: Monday’s Game 2 of the Cardinals/Giants series drew a 4.3 overnight rating on FOX, down 7% from Tigers/Rangers Game 2 on a Monday afternoon last year (4.6), and down 34% from Giants/Phillies on a Sunday night in 2010 (6.5).
Locally, Games 1 and 2 drew ratings of 41.5 and 36.2, respectively, in St. Louis. In the Bay Area, the games drew ratings of 20.6 (Game 1) and 19.1 (Game 2).
(Sunday’s numbers from Fox Sports press release [.pdf]; Monday numbers from Sports Business Daily)
