Coverage of the MLB Division Series gave TBS its best week ever.
The ’09 MLB Division Series averaged a 3.1 U.S. rating and 4.8 million viewers on TBS, up 11% in ratings and viewership from a 2.8 and 4.3 million last year, but down 16% and 17%, respectively, from a 3.7 and 5.7 million in ’07.
Thanks to the MLB Division Series, last week was TBS’ best week ever in viewers, households, and the adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 demographics. The previous records were set during the ’07 Division Series.
The final game of the Division Series, Phillies/Rockies Game 4, drew a 3.2 U.S. rating and 5.2 million viewers on TBS Monday night — up 45% and 68%, respectively, from a 2.2 and 3.1 million for Rays/White Sox in a similar timeslot last year. Compared to Indians/Yankees Game 4 in ’07, Phillies/Rockies was down 46% in ratings and 44% in viewers from a 5.9 and 9.2 million viewers.
The Phillies/Rockies series averaged a 2.5 U.S. rating and 3.8 million viewers, making the series the lowest-rated and least-viewed of the four Division Series.
Coverage of the Division Series drew big numbers in local markets, led by Minneapolis/St. Paul (21.2 for Yankees/Twins), Philadelphia (18.7 for Phillies/Rockies) and St. Louis (18.1 for Dodgers/Cardinals).
Surprisingly, Boston, which led the major leagues in local ratings during the regular season, finished 5th out of the 7 home markets for the Division Series. The Angels/Red Sox series drew a 13.9 rating in the market, ahead of only Denver (13.6 for Phillies/Rockies) and Los Angeles (8.3 for Dodgers, 7.3 for Angels), and behind New York (14.3 for Yankees/Twins).
Ratings/viewership for the 2009 MLB Division Series
All ratings are U.S. ratings
— indicates that there was no comparable game last year
| Date | Game | Net | Rating | vs. ’08 | vs. ’07 | Viewers | vs. ’08 | vs. ’07 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., 10/7/09 | Rockies/Phillies Game 1 | TBS |
2.0
|
0%
|
-9%
|
2.8 mil
|
0%
|
-13%
|
| Twins/Yankees Game 1 | TBS |
4.3
|
23%
|
16%
|
6.6 mil
|
23%
|
21%
|
|
| Cardinals/Dodgers Game 1 | TBS |
3.3
|
10%
|
-3%
|
5.0 mil
|
12%
|
-3%
|
|
| Thu., 10/8/09 | Rockies/Phillies Game 2 | TBS |
2.2
|
10%
|
-4%
|
3.0 mil
|
13%
|
-10%
|
| Cardinals/Dodgers Game 2 | TBS |
3.5
|
27%
|
-22%
|
5.2 mil
|
23%
|
-23%
|
|
| Red Sox/Angels Game 1 | TBS |
3.0
|
15%
|
15%
|
4.4 mil
|
10%
|
19%
|
|
| Fri., 10/9/09 | Yankees/Twins Game 2 | TBS |
4.1
|
58%
|
-16%
|
6.5 mil
|
67%
|
-14%
|
| Red Sox/Angels Game 2 | TBS |
3.3
|
0%
|
-21%
|
5.1 mil
|
-4%
|
-21%
|
|
| Sat., 10/10/09 | Dodgers/Cardinals Game 3 | TBS |
2.6
|
-10%
|
-13%
|
4.0 mil
|
-12%
|
-14%
|
| Sun., 10/11/09 | Angels/Red Sox Game 3 | TBS |
2.1
|
33%
|
—
|
2.9 mil
|
32%
|
—
|
| Yankees/Twins Game 3 | TBS |
4.1
|
5%
|
-24%
|
6.8 mil
|
10%
|
-20%
|
|
| Phillies/Rockies Game 3 | TBS |
2.7
|
—
|
—
|
4.1 mil
|
|||
| Mon., 10/12/09 | Phillies/Rockies Game 4 | TBS |
3.2
|
45%
|
-46%
|
5.2 mil
|
68%
|
-44%
|
Viewership for the MLB Division Series since ’06
Sources: Turner Sports, TV By the Numbers
