The 2007 edition of MLB on FOX averaged a 2.3 rating for 26 regular season telecasts, the lowest average for Major League Baseball on broadcast television since at least 1987, and likely the lowest average ever. The 2.3 average marks a 4% decline from the 2.4 average for 18 regular season telecasts in 2006, and a 12% decline from the 2.6 average for 18 regular season games in 2005.
FOX finished its season with a 1.6 rating for regional action last Saturday. The 1.6 marked an 11% decline from the 1.8 rating for games on the comparable date last year. The game was the third-lowest rated sporting event on broadcast during the weekend, ahead of only a PBR Bull Riding telecast on FOX and Ultimate Blackjack on CBS.
For the month of September, FOX averaged a 1.7 rating; excluding the Yankees/Red Sox telecast on September 15, the average was 1.5. Only once during the month of September did MLB on FOX draw a 2.0 rating — the aforementioned 9/15 Yankees/Red Sox game.
In each of the past four seasons, regular season ratings on FOX have declined.
MLB regular season ratings on FOX.
(since 1997)
1997: 2.6
1998: 3.1
1999: 2.9
2000: 2.6
2001: N/A
2002: 2.5
2003: 2.7
2004: 2.7
2005: 2.6
2006: 2.4
2007: 2.3
