Ratings and viewership increased substantially for Saturday’s Game 3 of the World Series, but the Yankees’ win still drew the lowest numbers of the series.
Yankees/Phillies Game 3 drew a 9.1/18 final rating and 15.4 million viewers on FOX Saturday night, up 49% in ratings and 57% in viewership from Rays/Phillies Game 3 last year (6.1/13, 9.8 mil), and up 7% and 9%, respectively, from Red Sox/Rockies Game 3 in ’07 (8.5/16, 14.1 mil).
Last night’s game did not start until after 9 PM ET, due to rain. Similarly, last year’s Rays/Phillies Game 3 did not start until after 10 PM ET, also due to rain.
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed Game 3 of the World Series since ’06. Additionally, this marks the highest rated Saturday World Series game since ’05, and the most-viewed Saturday game since ’04.
Despite the increase, Yankees/Phillies Game 3 ranks as the fifth-lowest rated and seventh-least viewed World Series game since at least ’72 — and easily ranks as the lowest rated, least-viewed World Series game to involve the Yankees.
Additionally, this marks the third-lowest rated, third-least viewed Game 3 of the World Series since at least ’72. Prior to ’07, Game 3 of the World Series typically aired on a weeknight, as opposed to Saturday — the least viewed night of the week.
6 of the 10 lowest rated World Series games (and 4 of the 5 lowest rated) have taken place on a Saturday night. Additionally, the Phillies have been involved in 6 of the 10 lowest rated games (including 3 of the 5 lowest rated).
In Philadelphia, Game 3 drew a 36.0/57, up 28% from a 28.2/49 for last year’s Rays/Phillies Game 3. In New York, the game drew a 26.1/44, down 2% from a 26.5/39 for Yankees/Marlins Game 3 in ’03.
Through three games, the 2009 World Series is averaging 10.9/19 rating and 17.9 million viewers, up 42% in ratings and 46% in viewership from Rays/Phillies last year (7.7/14, 12.3 mil) and up 8% and 12%, respectively, from Red Sox/Rockies in ’07 (10.1, 16 mil).
This is the highest average for the first three games of the World Series since 2004.
Comparably, the 2003 World Series — the last to feature the Yankees — averaged an 11.9/21 through three games.
Ratings/viewership for Game 3 of the World Series since ’95
| Year | Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sat., 10/31/09 | Yankees/Phillies G3 | FOX |
9.1/18
|
15.4 mil
|
| 2008 | Sat., 10/25/08 | Rays/Phillies G3 | FOX |
6.1/13
|
9.8 mil
|
| 2007 | Sat., 10/27/07 | Red Sox/Rockies G3 | FOX |
8.5/16
|
14.1 mil
|
| 2006 | Tue., 10/24/06 | Tigers/Cardinals G3 | FOX |
10.2/17
|
15.6 mil
|
| 2005 | Tue., 10/25/05 | White Sox/Astros G3 | FOX |
11.0/21
|
16.7 mil
|
| 2004 | Tue., 10/26/04 | Red Sox/Cardinals G3 | FOX |
15.7/24
|
24.4 mil
|
| 2003 | Tue., 10/21/03 | Yankees/Marlins G3 | FOX |
12.5/21
|
18.9 mil
|
| 2002 | Tue., 10/22/02 | Angels/Giants G3 | FOX |
10.8/18
|
17.0 mil
|
| 2001 | Tue., 10/30/01 | D’Backs/Yankees G3 | FOX |
15.4/24
|
23.4 mil
|
| 2000 | Tue., 10/24/00 | Yankees/Mets G3 | FOX |
12.4/21
|
17.5 mil
|
| 1999 | Tue., 10/26/99 | Braves/Yankees G3 | NBC |
16.8/27
|
24.1 mil
|
| 1998 | Tue., 10/20/98 | Yankees/Padres G3 | FOX |
15.4/25
|
22.0 mil
|
| 1997 | Tue., 10/21/97 | Marlins/Indians G3 | NBC |
15.6/27
|
22.2 mil
|
| 1996 | Tue., 10/22/96 | Yankees/Braves G3 | FOX |
17.5/28
|
24.0 mil
|
| 1995 | Tue., 10/24/95 | Braves/Indians G3 | NBC |
20.0/34
|
28.7 mil
|
Lowest rated World Series games since ’72
* Rays/Phillies Game 3 did not begin until after 10 PM ET, due to rain
** Yankees/Phillies Game 3 did not begin until after 9 PM ET, due to rain
^ Rays/Phillies Game 5 began on Monday, October 27, and concluded on Wednesday, October 29, also due to rain
| # | Date | Game | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat., 10/25/08 | Rays/Phillies G3* | FOX |
6.1/13
|
| 2 | Sat., 10/21/06 | Cardinals/Tigers G1 | FOX |
8.0/15
|
| 3 | Thu., 10/23/08 | Phillies/Rays G2 | FOX |
8.1/13
|
| 4 | Sat., 10/27/07 | Red Sox/Rockies G3 | FOX |
8.5/16
|
| 5 | Sat., 10/31/09 | Yankees/Phillies G3^ | FOX |
9.1/18
|
| 6 | Wed., 10/22/08 | Phillies/Rays G1 | FOX |
9.2/15
|
| 7 | Sun., 10/26/08 | Rays/Phillies G4 | FOX |
9.3/15
|
| 8 | Sat., 10/19/02 | Giants/Angels G1 | FOX |
9.4/18
|
| 9 | Sat., 10/22/05 | Astros/White Sox G1 | FOX |
9.5/17
|
| 10 | Mon., 10/27/08 | Rays/Phillies G5** | FOX |
9.6/14
|
Source: TV By the Numbers
