The 2010 American League Championship Series got off to an impressive start on TBS.
The Yankees’ Game 1 come-from-behind victory over the Rangers drew a 5.0 U.S. rating and 8.111 million viewers on TBS Friday night, up 16% in ratings and 19% in viewership from Game 1 of last year’s NLCS on TBS (PHI/LAD: 4.3, 6.837 mil) and up 22% and 21%, respectively, from Game 1 of the 2008 ALCS on TBS (BOS/TB: 4.1, 6.689 mil).
Game 1 of last year’s Angels/Yankees ALCS on FOX drew a 5.2 rating and 8.439 million viewers on a Saturday night.
Yankees/Rangers Game 1 ranks as the most-viewed LCS Game 1 ever on cable television (four telecasts).
The game also ranks as the sixth most-viewed MLB postseason game ever on cable, behind only Braves/Cubs Game 3 in 2003 (8.126 mil), Indians/Yankees Game 3 in 2007 (8.460 mil), Red Sox/Rays Game 6 in 2008 (8.928 mil), Indians/Yankees Game 4 in 2007 (9.232 mil) and Red Sox/Rays Game 7 in 2008 (13.357 mil).
Friday’s game drew the largest audience for a non-NFL sporting event on cable since Boise State/Virginia Tech on ESPN Labor Day (9.888 mil), and the second largest audience since LeBron James‘ The Decision in July (9.948 mil).
For comparison purposes, TNT drew a 4.4 U.S. rating and 7.112 million viewers for Game 1 of the Suns/Lakers NBA Western Conference Finals in May.
Game 1 drew a 13.9 rating in the New York market, down 18% from last year’s ALCS Game 1 on FOX (16.7). The game drew a 21.9 rating in the Dallas-Ft. Worth market.
(Turner Sports)
