The ratings for the National League Championship Series on FOX may be a bad omen for next week’s World Series.
The Phillies’ clinching Game 5 victory over the Dodgers drew a 5.1/8 final rating and 8 million viewers on FOX Wednesday night, down 40% and 39%, respectively, from an 8.5/14 and 13.1 million for Game 5 of last year’s Red Sox/Indians ALCS, which aired on a Thursday night on FOX.
Phillies/Dodgers was also down 32% and 28% from a 7.5/12 and 11.1 million viewers for Game 5 of the 2006 NLCS between the Mets and Cardinals. Last year’s Rockies/Diamondbacks NLCS ended in four games.
The ratings for Game 5 were affected by the Presidential Debate between Barack Obama and John McCain. In 2004, the lone LCS game to air opposite a debate drew a 10.1 rating, down 16% from 2003. In 2000, ratings dropped 37% for Game 1 of the NLCS, which aired opposite the second Bush/Gore debate, and 43% for Game 6 of the ALCS, which aired opposite the third.
Overall, the 2008 National League Championship Series will finish as the lowest rated, least watched LCS to ever air on broadcast television. The five game series averaged a 4.8 rating and 7.5 million viewers, down 35% in ratings and viewership from last year’s seven-game Red Sox/Indians ALCS on FOX, and down 9% and 4% from a 5.3 with 7.8 million for the 2006 ALCS between the Tigers and Athletics, which had been the lowest rated LCS ever on broadcast.
Keep in mind that Tigers/A’s series was a four-game sweep that included two afternoon games.
This marks the second straight year the National League Championship Series has set a record low. In 2007, the Rockies/Diamondbacks NLCS was the lowest rated, least viewed LCS ever, averaging a 2.8/6 rating and 4.3 million viewers on TBS.
Ratings/viewership for 2008 NLCS.
5.1, 7.7 mil: Phillies 3, Dodgers 2 (Thu., 10/9, 8 PM FOX)
3.4, 5.0 mil: Phillies 8, Dodgers 5 (Fri., 10/10, 4:30 PM FOX)
5.6, 8.8 mil: Dodgers 7, Phillies 2 (Sun., 10/12, 8 PM FOX)
5.0, 7.7 mil: Phillies 7, Dodgers 5 (Mon., 10/13, 8 PM FOX)
5.1, 8.0 mil: Phillies 5, Dodgers 1 (Wed., 10/15, 8 PM FOX)
Fewest avg. viewers for League Championship Series on broadcast.
7.5 million: 2008 NL, Phillies 4, Dodgers 1 (FOX)
7.8 million: 2006 AL, Tigers 4, Athletics 0 (FOX)
9.7 million: 2002 NL, Giants 4, Cardinals 1 (FOX)
10.2 million: 2002 AL, Angels 4, Twins 1 (FOX)
