In the rare position of World Series favorite, the Cubs began their quest to end a 108-year drought with big numbers on Fox Sports 1.
Game 1 of the Giants/Cubs National League Division Series earned 5.7 million viewers on Fox Sports 1 Friday night, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 21% from Mets/Dodgers Game 1 last year (4.7M) and up 67% from Royals/Angels Game 2 in 2014 (3.4M), both of which aired on TBS. Ratings were not immediately available.
Compared to last year’s Cubs/Cardinals NLDS opener on TBS, which aired in an earlier timeslot, viewership rose 6% from 5.4 million.
The Cubs’ narrow win ranks as the most-watched Division Series opener on any network since Yankees/Twins in 2010 (6.9M) and the second-most watched MLB telecast ever on Fox Sports 1 (dates back to 2014). Game 5 of last year’s Astros/Royals ALDS holds the top spot with 5.9 million.
In other action, Game 1 of Dodgers/Nationals had 2.2 million — down 59% from Cubs/Cardinals on TBS last year (5.4M) and down 39% from Cardinals/Dodgers on FS1 in 2014 (3.6M). Keep in mind the game aired nearly concurrently with Red Sox/Indians Game 2 on TBS, which began one hour earlier.
Figures were not immediately available for Friday’s two games on TBS.
(Fri. numbers from Fox Sports PR/Twitter 10/8)
