One night after the A.L. Wild Card Game tied a record-low overnight, the N.L. game set a record-high.
The Giants/Mets National League Wild Card Game earned a 5.8 overnight rating on ESPN Wednesday night, up 5% from Cubs/Pirates on TBS last year (5.5), up 41% from Giants/Pirates on ESPN in 2014 (4.1) and the highest overnight ever for a Wild Card game (10 telecasts dating back to 2012).
The previous high was a 5.7 for Astros/Yankees on ESPN last year. ESPN owns three of the five highest Wild Card overnights, with the 2014 Giants/Pirates game ranking fifth.
The Giants’ close win, which peaked at a 7.1 from 11-11:15 PM ET, also scored the highest overnight for the MLB on ESPN since Game 3 of the Braves/Cubs Division Series in 2003 (6.4). Keep in mind that does not include the Home Run Derby.
Wednesday’s game marked a sharp turnaround from the American League Wild Card the previous night. That game had a 3.3 overnight, tied as the lowest ever for the round. Keep in mind that the A.L. game featured a Canadian team and aired opposite the vice presidential debate, while the N.L. game had the nation’s #1 market and little notable competition.
The Bay Area topped all markets with a 16.0 rating, up 20% from Giants/Pirates in ’14 (13.3) and also up 62% from the Athletics’ Wild Card game against the Royals the same year (9.9). In New York, the game had a 15.6 rating — up 30% from last year’s Astros/Yankees game (12.0). The Mets have not previously played in the Wild Card round.
(Wed. numbers from ESPN Media Zone 10/6)
