The World Baseball Classic continues to set records on MLB Network. In other news, ESPN did not do well for a World Baseball Classic simulcast last week, and TNT earned mediocre numbers for a mediocre NBA doubleheader.
World Baseball Classic Sets New Viewership Record on MLB Network
- Thursday’s Dominican Republic/United States World Baseball Classic game drew 883,000 viewers on MLB Network, the largest audience ever for a baseball game on the network outside of the MLB Postseason. The previous high was set by the United States/Canada game last Sunday (760K). The three-most viewed non-postseason games on MLB Network have all taken place during the World Baseball Classic. While the WBC has been a record-setter for MLB Network, keep in mind ESPN averaged 1.6 million for the event four years ago. (Thu. numbers from Sports Business Daily)
ESPN Struggles With WBC Simulcast
- ESPN drew a 0.2 U.S. rating and 279,000 viewers for an ESPN Deportes simulcast of the Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico World Baseball Classic game last Sunday, easily the network’s lowest rated and least-viewed live sporting event of the week. The English-language telecast on MLB Network earned a 0.3 and 513,000. (Sun. numbers from Son of the Bronx [1], [2])
Mediocre NBA Doubleheader Earns Mediocre Numbers on TNT
- Thursday’s Mavericks/Spurs NBA regular season game on TNT earned 1.5 million viewers, down 70% from Lakers/Heat on the comparable night of the 2010-11 season (4.8M). The Knicks/Trail Blazers nightcap drew 1.4 million, down 44% from Knicks/Mavericks in 2011 (2.4M). There were no games last year due to the NCAA Tournament. (Thu. numbers from The Futon Critic)
