MLB on FOX returned from hiatus with double-digit declines in ratings and viewership. In other news, ESPN posted big gains for Sunday Night Baseball, and NASCAR’s Xfinity Series eked out a slight bump on NBCSN.
MLB on FOX Dips in Return
- Regional Major League Baseball action featuring Cubs/Astros in 70% of markets drew a 1.0 final rating and 1.5 million viewers on FOX last Saturday, down 17% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (1.2, 1.8M) but flat and up 6%, respectively, from 2014 (1.0, 1.4M). Ratings and viewership were the second-lowest of the season on FOX, ahead of Rays/Yankees opposite the Olympics in August — Alex Rodriguez‘ final game (0.7, 1.0M).
SNB Up From Last Year, With Caveat
- Cubs/Astros scored a 0.7 final rating and 1.1 million viewers on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball last weekend, up 133% in ratings and 142% in viewership from Royals/Orioles last year, which was bumped to ESPN2 due to the U.S. Open (0.3, 442K), but down a tick and 19%, respectively, from Giants/Tigers in 2014 (0.8, 1.3M). Shifting to mid-week, Wednesday’s Red Sox/Orioles game had 743,000 (-3%) and the Mariners/Angels nightcap had 473,000. Elsewhere on cable, TBS had a mere 0.1 (-20%) and 161,000 (-22%) for Orioles/Tigers Sunday afternoon.
Xfinity Series Sees Bump at Richmond
- NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Richmond earned a 0.6 final rating and 970,000 viewers on NBCSN last Friday, up 4% in viewership from last year (933K) but down 25% and 26%, respectively, from 2014 on ESPN (0.8, 1.3M). The race ranks as the second-least watched of the season, ahead of only Road America in August (932K).
(Numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 9/13, 9/15; Programming Insider 9/13)
