For the fourth time in six years, TV ratings hit a record-low for the MLB All-Star Game.
The 2015 MLB All-Star Game drew a 6.6 final rating and 10.9 million viewers on FOX Tuesday night, down 6% in ratings and 4% in viewership from last year (7.0, 11.3M) and down 4% and a fraction of a percent, respectively, from 2013 (6.9, 11.0M). Viewership peaked at 12.1 million from 9:45-10 PM ET.
The 6.6 rating is the lowest ever for the MLB All-Star Game, falling below the previous mark of 6.8 in 2012. Ratings have dipped below the 7.0 mark in four of the past five years. Viewership ranks as the second-lowest for the All-Star Game, ahead of 2012 (10.91M to 10.90M).
As recently as 2009, the All-Star Game had a much stronger 8.9 rating and 14.6 million viewers. In the six editions since, ratings and viewership have not exceeded the 7.5 and 12.1 million earned in 2010.
Despite the lower numbers, Tuesday’s game ranks as the highest rated and most-watched All-Star Game in pro sports. It topped the Pro Bowl on ESPN by 29% in ratings (5.1) and 24% in viewership (8.8M), marking the first time since 2009 that it has beaten the NFL game in the latter category. It also topped the NBA All-Star Game on TNT and TBS by 54% and 52%, respectively.
The game drew a 3.1 rating among adults 18-49, down a tick from last year and 2013 (3.2) and tied with 2011 as the lowest in the demo since at least 1991. It matched the NBA All-Star Game in the demo, but trailed the Pro Bowl (3.2).
Kansas City was the top market with a whopping 31.4 rating, up 178% from last year (11.3). Host city Cincinnati drew a 22.8, up 37% from last year’s host, Minneapolis-St. Paul (16.6). St. Louis (17.9), Pittsburgh (13.2) and Dayton, OH (11.4) rounded out the top five.
(Tue. numbers from Fox Sports, with additional info from TV By the Numbers)
