Major League Baseball is off to a mediocre start in the ratings this season.
Combined ratings for baseball games on ESPN and ESPN2 are down approximately 10% from last year, according to John Consoli of Mediaweek. ESPN is up 16% and ESPN2 down 21%, with both percentages almost entirely attributable to the Opening Night broadcast airing on ESPN instead of ESPN2 as in previous years.
FOX is averaging a 2.3 rating for three broadcasts, off 14% from last year. Part of that increase is due to a lower rating for the network’s first Yankees/Red Sox game of the season. The April 12 telecast featuring the two rivals drew a 2.7 rating, down 16% from the first game the rivals played on FOX last year.
TBS, in its rookie season as a national MLB broadcast partner, is not immune to lower ratings. Through three broadcasts, Sunday afternoon baseball on TBS is averaging a mere 0.5 rating. By comparison, Braves games on the network averaged a 0.8 last year.
