The National League Division Series delivered another pair of big numbers on TBS.
Game 4 of the Cardinals/Cubs NLDS earned a 4.0 rating and 6.2 million viewers on TBS Tuesday night, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 82% in ratings and 89% in viewership from Dodgers/Cardinals on Fox Sports 1 last year (2.2, 3.3M) and up 54% and 62%, respectively, from Athletics/Tigers on TBS in 2013 (2.6, 3.8M). Ratings and viewership peaked at a 6.3 and 10.5 million from 7:45-8 PM ET.
The Cubs’ series-clinching ranks as the highest rated and most-watched playoff day game, regardless of round, since Game 2 of the 2011 Rangers/Tigers ALCS on FOX (4.2, 6.6M).
Later in the night, Game 4 of the Dodgers/Mets series drew a 4.0 and 6.3 million — up 60% in ratings and 62% in viewership from Giants/Nationals on FS1 last year (2.5, 3.9M) and up 11% and 23%, respectively, from Red Sox/Rays on TBS in 2013 (3.6, 5.2M). Despite earning a larger audience than Cardinals/Cubs, the game had a much smaller peak — a 4.6 and 7.2 million from 10:30-10:45 PM.
Keep in mind the Dodgers’ win faced competition from the Democratic presidential debate on CNN, which earned one of the largest non-sports audiences in cable history (15.3M).
Tuesday’s games rank as the most-watched Division Series telecasts since 2011. All eight N.L. Division Series games this year have earned a higher rating and more viewers than the top ALDS telecast — Astros/Royals Game 1 on FS1 (2.0, 3.3M).
Including the Cubs/Pirates Wild Card game, the N.L. playoffs has averaged a 3.4 rating and 5.5 million viewers on TBS — up 42% in ratings and viewership from the comparable period last year, when the network carried the A.L. playoffs (2.4, 3.9M). All nine games have had at least a 26% increase in ratings and viewership, and the Cubs’ five games have each had at least a 39% increase.
(Tue. numbers from Turner Sports)
