The Royals tanked the television ratings for Game 6 of the World Series, but in doing so likely saved FOX from an all-time record low.
Game 6 of the Giants/Royals World Series drew an 8.1 rating and 13.4 million viewers on FOX Tuesday night, down 28% in ratings and 30% in viewership from Cardinals/Red Sox Game 6 last year (11.3, 19.2M) and down 36% and 37%, respectively, from Rangers/Cardinals Game 6 in 2011 (12.7, 21.1M). There was no Game 6 in 2012.
Fox Deportes chipped in 254,000 viewers, bringing the total to 13.6 million.
The Royals’ blowout win ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed Game 6 of the World Series, falling below the previous marks set last year. The Giants/Royals series has now accounted for the lowest rated and least-viewed Game 1, Game 4, Game 5 and Game 6. The Giants have now played in 10 of the 15 lowest rated World Series games, with Tuesday’s Game 6 tied for 14th (seventh with Saturday games excluded).
Tuesday’s rating peaked at a 9.5 from 9-9:30 PM ET, as the Royals’ lead ballooned to 7-0. Except for Game 3, none of the games in this year’s series have been particularly close.
Game 6 drew a 54.6 rating in Kansas City, up 14% from Game 5 (48.0) and the highest of the series. The 54.6 is the highest on record for baseball in K.C., which was not a metered market with the Royals last played in the World Series, and the highest for any market in a non-clinching game since 2001. In the Bay Area, Game 6 drew a 27.7 — down 19% from Game 5 (34.1) and the second-lowest of the series.
The World Series has averaged a 7.3 rating and 12.3 million viewers through six games, down 18% in ratings and 17% in viewership from Red Sox/Cardinals last year (8.9, 14.9M) and down 4% and 3%, respectively, from the four-game Giants/Tigers series in 2012 (7.6, 12.7M). Including Fox Deportes, the series has averaged 12.5 million viewers.
If not for Game 7, Giants/Royals would rank as the lowest rated and least-viewed World Series ever, a distinction currently held by Giants/Tigers in 2012. Game 7 should lift this year’s series comfortably past the 2012 mark.
(Tue. numbers from Fox Sports via TV By the Numbers)
