After two games, the 2010 World Series is only slightly ahead of the record low pace set in 2008.
The Giants’ 9-0 Game 2 win over the Rangers earned an 8.5 final rating and 14.130 million viewers on FOX Thursday night, down 27% in ratings and 25% in viewership from Game 2 last year (PHI/NYY: 11.7, 18.897 mil), but up 5% and 11%, respectively, from Game 2 in 2008 (PHI/TB: 8.1, 12.777 mil).
This marks the second-lowest rated, second-least viewed Game 2 of the World Series on record, ahead of only the aforementioned 2008 game.
In addition, the 8.5 rating for Game 2 is tied as the fourth-lowest in World Series history. The first two games of Giants/Rangers account for two of the six lowest rated World Series games ever.
Thursday’s game was down from Game 1 (8.9, 15.009 mil), marking the third straight year that ratings and viewership for Game 2 of the World Series dropped from the series opener.
In both 2009 and 2008, ratings and viewership dropped from Game 1 to Game 2 to Game 3 of the World Series. Expect that trend to continue this year, as Game 3 is once again set for Saturday, the lowest-rated night of the week.
Game 2 was not even the top program of the night on broadcast, finishing with a lower rating and fewer viewers than The Mentalist on CBS (9.1, 14.763 mil). The game also drew fewer viewers than CSI, also on CBS (8.5, 14.268 mil).
Among adults 18-49, the game drew a 4.0 rating — down 31% from last year (5.8), and even with 2008 (4.0). The 4.0 is tied as the lowest for Game 2 of the World Series in the demo since at least 2000 (demo ratings prior to 2001 were not available).
The game trailed The Big Bang Theory on CBS in the demo (4.2), and tied The Office on NBC (4.0).
For some perspective, Game 2 of the Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals drew a 9.2 rating and 15.718 million viewers, with a 6.5 rating among adults 18-49.
Through two games, the 2010 World Series is averaging an 8.7 rating and 14.6 million viewers on FOX, down 26% in ratings and 24% in viewership from last year (11.8, 19.2 mil), but up 1% and 6%, respectively, from 2008 (8.6, 13.8 mil).
This 8.7 average rating is the second-lowest ever for the World Series through the first two games, ahead of only 2008.
(FOX press release from Fang’s Bites; TV By The Numbers)
