The numbers for the 2010 World Series are trending far closer to the 2008 record low than the 2009 five-year high.
Game 2 of the Giants/Rangers series drew a 9.9 overnight rating on FOX Thursday night, down 27% from Game 2 last year (PHI/NYY: 13.6), but up 8% from Game 2 in 2008 (PHI/TB: 9.2).
The 9.9 overnight is the second-lowest ever for a World Series game that did not take place on a Saturday night. Only the aforementioned Phillies/Rays Game 2 drew a lower number.
This is the third straight year that overnight ratings for the Thursday night Game 2 of the World Series have declined from the Wednesday night Game 1. From 1997-2006, when the first two games aired on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, the Game 2 overnight topped Game 1 each year.
Since 2000, final ratings for Game 2 of the World Series have declined between 7% and 17% from the overnight, putting Thursday’s game on pace to finish in the 8.2-9.2 range. Since Game 2 moved to a Thursday night in 2007, the decline has been between 11% and 14%, putting the game on pace for a rating in the 8.5-8.8 range.
For some perspective, Game 2 of the Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals drew a 10.9 overnight. That game took place on a Sunday night.
The Giants’ Game 2 win drew a 36.4 in the Bay Area, up 1% from Wednesday’s Game 1 (35.9), and up 4% from Game 2 of the 2002 Giants/Angels World Series (35.1).
In Dallas-Ft. Worth, the game drew a 30.9 rating, down 8% from Game 1 (33.9).
