It was lost weekend for the World Series on FOX, starting with Saturday’s Game 4.
Game 4 of the Royals/Giants World Series drew a 6.3 rating and 10.7 million viewers on FOX Saturday night, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — down a third in ratings and viewership from Red Sox/Cardinals Game 4 last year (9.4, 16.0M) and down 29% and 31%, respectively, from Giants/Tigers Game 4 in 2012 (8.9, 15.5M). Fox Deportes chipped in 246,000 viewers, bringing the total audience to 11.0 million.
Keep in mind Game 4 of the World Series aired on a Sunday night from 2007-13, with an NFL lead-in each year. Compared to previous Saturday night games, Game 4 declined 15% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year’s Game 3 (7.4, 12.5M) and increased 3% and 2%, respectively, over Game 3 in 2012 (6.1, 10.5M).
The Giants’ blowout win ranks as the third-lowest rated World Series game ever, ahead of only Giants/Tigers Game 3 in 2012 and Phillies/Rays Game 3 in 2008 (6.1 for both games). Saturday has become a wasteland for World Series television ratings, with the six lowest rated games taking place on the night. Dating back to 1996, the lowest rated game of each World Series has taken place on a Saturday night.
Saturday’s game was also the lowest rated Game 4 in World Series history, falling below the previous mark of 8.9 set in 2012. Again, Game 4 played on a Sunday night prior to this season.
Kansas City was the top market for Game 4 with a series-low 43.6 rating. The game had a 28.9 in the Bay Area, up 10% from Game 3 (26.4). Compared to previous World Series to involve the Giants, the Game 4 rating declined 25% from the 2012 series clincher (38.7) and 20% from Giants/Rangers in 2010 (36.3).
(Sat. numbers from Fox Sports)
