Saturday nights have not been kind to the World Series, but this year was an exception.
Game 4 of the Royals/Mets World Series earned a 7.8 rating and 13.6 million viewers on FOX Saturday night, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 24% in ratings and 27% in viewership from Royals/Giants last year (6.3, 10.7M) but down 17% and 15%, respectively, from Red Sox/Cardinals on a Sunday night in 2013 9.4, 16.0M). Fox Deportes added 273,000, bringing the total up to approximately 13.9 million.
The Royals’ comeback win, which peaked at a 9.8 and 16.9 million from 11:30 PM ET to the conclusion, ranks as the highest rated and most-watched Saturday night World Series game since Yankees/Phillies Game 3 in 2009 (9.1, 15.8M). It was just the second Saturday game over that span to top a 7.0 and 12.0 million.
The 7.8 rating is a series-low, but viewership increased slightly from Game 3 the previous night (13.2M) — ensuring that this year’s World Series will be the first since 1998 in which the least-watched game was not on a Saturday. The 7.8 is also the second-lowest ever for Game 4 of the World Series, with the caveat that Game 4 previously aired on Sunday nights after the NFL (2007-13) or in the middle of the week (1991-2006).
Among adults 18-49, Saturday’s game drew a 3.4 rating — up 31% from last year (2.6) but down 26% from 2013 (4.6). The 3.4 is the highest for a Saturday night World Series game since 2009 (4.7).
Game 4 drew a 49.8 rating in Kansas City, up 4% from Game 3 the previous night (48.0) and up 14% from last year’s Game 4 (43.6). It also had a 25.6 in New York, up 11% from Game 3 (23.1) but down 38% from the last Game 4 to involve the Mets in 2000 (41.5). The 2000 series also involved the Yankees.
Entering Sunday’s Game 5, the World Series has averaged an 8.3 rating and 14.0 million viewers — up 15% in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year (7.2, 11.9M) and down a tick and even, respectively, compared to 2013 (8.4, 14.0M). It has averaged a 3.9 among adults 18-49, up 26% from last year (3.1).
(Sat. numbers from Fox Sports)
