MLB Postseason: ALCS Game 5 Hits Three-Year High; NLCS Game 5 Down

The American League Championship Series has continued to post solid numbers on FOX.

Game 5 of the Red Sox/Tigers ALCS earned a 5.4 final rating and 8.6 million viewers on FOX Thursday night, up 23% in ratings and 21% in viewership from Giants/Cardinals Game 5 on a Friday night last year (4.4, 7.1M), and up 39% and 51%, respectively, from Rangers/Tigers Game 5 on a Thursday afternoon in 2011 (3.9, 5.7M).

Thursday’s game ranks as the most-viewed League Championship Series telecast on any network since 2010, and the top playoff game outside of the World Series since Game 5 of the Tigers/Yankees ALDS on TBS in 2011 (9.7M).

On Wednesday night, Game 4 of the series drew a 5.2 and 8.1 million viewers — up 37% in ratings and 35% in viewership from Giants/Cardinals Game 4 last year (3.8, 6.0M), but down 2% and 3%, respectively, from Rangers/Tigers in 2011 (5.3, 8.4M).

Through five games, the series has averaged a 4.7 rating and 7.5 million viewers on FOX — up 27% in ratings and viewership from last year (3.7, 5.9M).

Shifting to the NLCS, Game 5 of the Cardinals/Dodgers series drew 3.7 million viewers on TBS — down 32% from Brewers/Cardinals Game 5 in primetime two years ago (5.5M). There was no comparable game of last year’s Tigers/Yankees series.

As should be expected, the two afternoon games rank as the least-viewed of the series.

Viewership For First Five Games of the League Championship Series on FOX

Past five seasons
^ indicates afternoon game

Viewership For First Five Games of the League Championship Series on TBS

Past five seasons
^ indicates afternoon game

(This year’s numbers from Fox Sports, TV By the Numbers)