Primetime MLB on FOX Down From Last Year, But Hits Season-High

The first of three straight primetime MLB telecasts on FOX this season was down from last year, but still hit a season-high in viewership.

Regional MLB action featuring Red Sox/Yankees in 71% of TV markets earned a 2.6 final rating and 4.103 million viewers on FOX Saturday night, down a tick in ratings and 5% in viewership from the network’s seventh telecast last season, which also aired in primetime (NYY/NYM*: 2.7, 4.309M).

Despite the decline, the game ranks as the most-viewed MLB telecast of the season on FOX.

The three highest rated, most-viewed telecasts on FOX this season have each featured the Yankees, with the top two games pitting the Yankees against the Red Sox.

Overall, four of the seven MLB telecasts on FOX this season have had increases in viewership compared to last year.

Ratings/Viewership For MLB on FOX Through Last Saturday

Date	Time	Game(s)	% of U.S.	Net	2011		2010
Date	Time	Game(s)	% of U.S.	Net	Rating	Viewers (000)	Rating	Viewers (000)
Sat., 4/2/11	4:00 PM	DET 6, NYY 10	59%	FOX	2.0	3,157	1.6	2,412
		SF 10, LAD 0	20%
		SD 11, STL 3	20%
Sat., 4/9/11	1:00 PM	NYY 9, BOS 4	84%	FOX	2.6	3,891	2.4	3,707
Sat., 4/9/11	1:00 PM	PHI 10, ATL 2	15%	FOX	2.6	3,891	2.4	3,707
Sat., 4/16/11	4:00 PM	NYM 2, ATL 4	45%	FOX	1.5	2,292	1.6	2,344
		LAA 7, CHW 2	35%
		MIN 3, TB 4	19%
Sat., 4/23/11	4:00 PM	ATL 5, SF 2	69%	FOX	1.8	2,794	1.4	2,008
		CIN 5, STL 3	19%
		CHW 0, DET 9	11%
Sat., 4/30/11	1:00 PM	STL 3, ATL 2	52%	FOX	1.4	2,101	2.5	3,658
		LAA 1, TB 2	25%
		NYM 1, PHI 2	22%
Sat., 5/7/11	1:00 PM	MIN 0, BOS 4	48%	FOX	1.4	2,136	1.4	2,078
		CIN 2, CHC 3	44%
		TB 8, BAL 2	7%
Sat., 5/14/11	7:00 PM	BOS 6, NYY 0	71%	FOX	2.6	4,103	2.7	4,309
		SF 3, CHC 0	20%
		ARI 1, LAD 0	8%