2009 World Series averages 11.7 rating, 19.4 million viewers

The Yankees may be one of the most hated teams in America, but they certainly attract an audience.

The 6-game Yankees/Phillies World Series averaged an 11.7/19 rating and 19.4 million viewers on FOX, up 39% in ratings and 43% in viewership from Phillies/Rays last year (8.4/14, 13.6 mil), up 10% and 14%, respectively, from Red Sox/Rockies in ’07 (10.6/18, 17.1 mil), and the highest-rated, most-viewed World Series since Red Sox/Cardinals in ’04 (15.8/26, 25.4 mil).

Yankees/Phillies stands as the 4th most-viewed World Series of the decade, behind only Red Sox/Cardinals in ’04 (25.4 mil), Diamondbacks/Yankees in ’01 (24.5 mil) and Marlins/Yankees in ’03 (20.1 mil).

Wednesday night’s Phillies/Yankees Game 6 averaged a 13.4/22 rating and 22.3 million viewers on FOX, down 4% in ratings and viewership from Marlins/Yankees Game 6 in ’03 (13.9/25, 23.2 mil) — the most recent Game 6 of the World Series.

Game 6 ranks as the highest rated, most-viewed clinching game of the World Series since Red Sox/Cardinals Game 4 in ’04 (18.2/28, 28.8 mil).

To put the numbers in perspective, the 2009 World Series topped the Lakers/Magic NBA Finals (8.4/15, 14.3 mil) — a return to the status quo after Celtics/Lakers topped Phillies/Rays in 2008. Additionally, the World Series outdrew the NCAA Men’s Final Four (9.1, 14.9 mil) and the Bowl Championship Series (10.2, 17.4 mil).

The series averaged a 6.2 rating in the adults 18-49 demo (up 41% from last year), and a 5.4 among adults 18-34 (up 46%). Comparably, the NBA Finals averaged a 5.8 among adults 18-49 and a 5.7 among adults 18-34, while the Final Four averaged a 5.1 among adults 18-49.

Overall, the World Series accounts for four of the six most-viewed non-NFL sporting events of 2009, with Games 4 and 6 ranking second and third, respectively.

The 2009 World Series stands as the 5th-lowest rated and 7th least-viewed since at least ’68. The past five World Series rank as the five lowest rated in history.

From 1973-1999, no World Series averaged fewer than 20 million viewers (viewership data for series prior to ’73 was unavailable). From 2000-2009, 7 of the 10 World Series have averaged fewer than 20 million — the lone exceptions coming in ’01, ’03 and ’04.

Additionally, the series is the lowest rated and second-least viewed World Series since at least ’76 to involve the New York Yankees. Only the 2000 Yankees/Mets series averaged fewer viewers (18.1 million).

Ratings/viewership for every World Series since 1995

Game-by-game ratings/viewership for the 2009 World Series

Source: TV By the Numbers