World Series’ Return to Wrigley Top Game 3 Since 2004

The first World Series game at Wrigley Field in 71 years was an impressive draw on FOX.

Game 3 of the Indians/Cubs World Series had an 11.0 rating and 19.4 million viewers on FOX Friday night, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 39% in ratings and 47% in viewership from Royals/Mets last year (7.9, 13.2M) and up 53% and 60%, respectively, from Royals/Giants in 2014 (7.2, 12.1M).

Cleveland’s narrow win, which peaked at a 14.2 and 24.5 million from 11:30 PM ET to the conclusion, ranks as the most-watched Game 3 of the World Series in 12 years — since Red Sox/Cardinals in 2004 (24.4M). Overall, it was the ninth-most watched World Series game of any kind since 2004, ranking narrowly ahead of Tuesday’s Game 1.*

It also tied White Sox/Astros in 2005 as the highest rated Game 3 since 2004 (15.7). All three games of the Indians/Cubs series have delivered a multi-year high in ratings and viewership, with Games 1 and 2 hitting seven-year highs in both measures.

Figures do not include the Spanish-language audience on Fox Deportes (300K) or streaming viewership on Fox Sports GO (103K). With those numbers added to the mix, Game 3 had 19.8 million viewers.

Game 3 was a particularly strong draw by Friday night standards. Outside of the Olympics, it was the highest rated and most-watched Friday night sporting event since Game 7 of the 2011 World Series (14.7, 25.4M). The second-place game over that span, Game 4 of this year’s NBA Finals, had a 9.8 and 16.6 million.

In adults 18-49, Friday’s game had a 5.2 rating — up 63% from last year (3.2). Ratings in adults 18-34 were not immediately available.

* While both Game 1 and 3 rounded to 19.4 million viewers, Saturday’s Fox Sports press release indicated that Game 3 had the larger audience.

(Fri. numbers from Fox Sports)