The NLCS attracted good numbers on FOX over the weekend, but trailed last year’s ALCS — which was lifted by the presence of the Yankees.
FOX drew a 6.5 overnight rating for Sunday’s Giants/Phillies Game 2, down 9% from Game 2 of last year’s ALCS on FOX (LAA/NYY: 7.1), but up 63% from Game 2 of the 2008 NLCS on FOX (LAD/PHI: 4.0).
Last year’s Angels/Yankees Game 2 aired on a Saturday night, traditionally the lowest rated night of the week. Dodgers/Phillies Game 2 in ’08 aired on a Friday afternoon.
Overnights for last year’s Phillies/Dodgers Game 2 on TBS were not available.
Sunday’s telecast was trounced head-to-head by Sunday Night Football on NBC (13.2). Last year, FOX aired only one Major League Baseball game opposite SNF, Angels/Yankees Game 6. That game won the ratings battle, both in the overnights (11.4 to 10.4) and the final ratings (9.3 to 9.1).
Giants/Phillies Game 1, which featured Giants P Tim Lincecum facing Phillies P Roy Halladay, drew a 5.2 overnight rating on Saturday night — down 16% from Game 1 of last year’s ALCS on FOX (LAA/NYY: 6.2) and down 13% from Game 1 of the 2008 NLCS on FOX (LAD/PHI: 6.0).
Last year’s Game 1 aired on a Friday night, while Game 1 in 2008 aired on a Thursday night.
Game 1 of last year’s Phillies/Dodgers NLCS on TBS drew a 5.3 overnight on a Thursday night.
Keep in mind Cablevision subscribers in the New York area were unable to watch either Game 1 or Game 2, thanks to a dispute between the cable operator and FOX parent company News Corporation.
(Ratings from Sports Business Daily)
