The first two games of the ALCS drew strong numbers on FOX.
Game 1 of the Angels/Yankees series drew a 5.2/10 rating and 8.4 million viewers on FOX Friday night, up 27% in ratings and 25% in viewers from a 4.1/8 and 6.7 million for Red Sox/Rays Game 1 on TBS last year.
Compared to recent LCS on FOX, Angels/Yankees Game 1 was up 2% in ratings and 9% in viewership from Dodgers/Phillies Game 1 last year (5.1, 7.7 mil), and up 8% and 14%, respectively, from Indians/Red Sox Game 1 in ’07 (4.8, 7.4 mil).
Friday’s game ranks as the highest rated, most-viewed Game 1 of a League Championship Series since ’06.
Saturday’s Game 2 drew a 5.8/11 fast-national rating and 9.4 million viewers, up 53% and 54%, respectively, from a 3.8/8 and 6.1 million for Red Sox/Rays Game 2 on TBS last year.
The Yankees’ extra inning victory was up 71% in ratings and 88% in viewership from Dodgers/Phillies Game 2 last year (3.4, 5.0 mil), and up 2% and 7%, respectively, from Indians/Red Sox Game 2 in ’07 (5.7, 8.8 mil). Keep in mind last year’s Dodgers/Phillies game aired on a Friday afternoon.
Similarly to Game 1, Game 2 stands as the highest rated, most-viewed Game 2 of an LCS since ’06.
Through two games, Angels/Yankees ALCS is averaging a 5.6/11 rating and 9 million viewers on FOX, up 44% in ratings and 43% in viewers from last year’s ALCS on TBS (3.9/8, 6.3 mil) and up 37% and 45%, respectively, from last year’s NLCS on FOX (4.1/8, 6.2 mil).
For comparison’s sake, the first two games of the ’04 Red Sox/Yankees ALCS averaged a far more impressive 10.0 rating and 15.1 million viewers. The first two games of that series took place on a Tuesday and Wednesday, as opposed to Friday and Saturday — the two lowest rated nights of the week.
In New York, Game 1 drew a 16.7/27 and Game 2 drew an 18.6/33. In Los Angeles, Game 1 drew a 9.1/19, with Game 2 scoring a 10.8/23.
Source: TV By the Numbers
