The numbers were not spectacular, but Game 2 of the World Series hit a four-year high on FOX.
Game 2 of the Mets/Royals World Series had an 8.3 final rating and 13.7 million viewers on FOX Wednesday night, up 5% in ratings and 6% in viewership from Giants/Royals last year (7.9, 12.9M) and flat and up 2%, respectively, from Cardinals/Red Sox in 2013 (8.3, 13.4M). Fox Deportes chipped in 183,000 viewers for Spanish-language coverage, bringing the combined audience to 13.9 million.
The Royals’ win, which peaked at a 9.5 and 15.8 million from 9:45-10 PM ET, ranks as the most-watched Game 2 of the World Series since Rangers/Cardinals in 2011 (14.3M) and is tied as the highest rated over that span. Both games of the series have now hit a multi-year high, with Tuesday’s opener the highest rated Game 1 since 2009 and the most-watched since 2010.
Going back further, however, it earned the fifth-smallest Game 2 audience in World Series history and tied the fourth-lowest rating — with only last year, 2013, Tigers/Giants in 2012 (7.8, 12.3M) and Phillies/Rays in 2008 (8.1, 12.8M) as low or lower.
Keep in mind coverage aired opposite the Republican Presidential Debate on CNBC, which drew a slightly larger audience of 14.0 million viewers. From 10:30-10:45 PM ET, just after the debate ended, Mets/Royals had a 9.0 rating and 15.0 million viewers — a 7% bounce from from the preceding quarter-hour (8.4, 14.0M).
Wednesday’s game had a 3.9 rating among adults 18-49, up 15% from last year (3.4), up 8% from 2013 (3.6) and the highest Game 2 rating in the demo since 2011 (4.0). It was television’s top program in the demo, easily topping the Republican Debate (2.6). The game also had a 3.0 in adults 18-34, up a tick from last year’s 2.9.
Through two games, the World Series has averaged an 8.7 rating and 14.5 million viewers — up 14% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (7.6, 12.5M) and up 2% and 4%, respectively, from 2013 (8.5, 13.9M). The series ranks as the highest rated through two games since 2011 (8.8) and the most-watched since 2010 (14.6).
(Wed. numbers from Fox Sports, with additional info from TV Media Insights/ShowBuzz Daily)
