It may not be a day game, but Game 3 of the 2010 World Series will have the earliest start for any World Series game since the late 1980s.
Game 3 of the World Series will begin at 6:57 PM ET October 30, a full hour earlier than last year’s scheduled 7:57 PM start time and the earliest start for a World Series game since 1987.
With the exception of Game 4 (8:20 PM ET), the remaining games will begin at 7:57 PM ET.
Last year’s Saturday night Game 3 drew a 9.1 rating and 15.397 million viewers, the fifth-lowest rated World Series game dating back to 1972. Keep in mind the game was delayed due to rain.
Four of the five lowest rated World Series games have aired on Saturday nights, with all four of those games taking place within the last four years.
In a statement Thursday, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig credited last year’s earlier start times (7:57 PM ET for Games 1-2 and 5-6) for “[helping] increase viewership,” and hoped the earlier start for this year’s Game 3 would “keep [MLB] moving in the same direction.”
Of course, the Yankees’ presence had much to do with the 43% increase in viewership for the 2009 World Series — as did the record low numbers for the previous year’s Rays/Phillies matchup.
While MLB has made an effort to move up World Series games over the past two years, it should be pointed out that early start times — specifically, the afternoon starts that some have desired — do not necessarily result in higher ratings.
From 1972-87, nine of the ten lowest rated World Series games took place on weekend afternoons, and 17 of the 18 least-viewed games took place during the day (16 on weekend afternoons).
* World Series viewership from 1972-1987 excludes three night games.
