As is usually the case, the World Series hit a series-low on a Saturday night, but still continued to trend well above recent years.
Game 4 of the Indians/Cubs World Series delivered a 10.5 overnight rating on FOX Saturday night, up 13% from Royals/Mets last year (9.3), up 48% from Royals/Giants in 2014 (7.1), and tied with Red Sox/Cardinals in 2013 as the highest for Game 4 of the Fall Classic since Giants/Tigers in 2012 (10.6).
Keep in mind that Game 4 of the World Series aired on a Sunday night with a direct NFL lead-in from 2007-13. Compared to previous Saturday games, the 10.5 is the highest for any World Series game on the night since Yankees/Phillies Game 3 in 2009 (10.8). The previous high over that span was last year’s 9.3 for Royals/Mets.
All four games of the World Series have hit a multi-year high in the metered markets.
Head-to-head, Cleveland’s win easily topped Clemson/Florida State on ABC’s Saturday Night Football (3.6). Outside of the Olympics, it was the top Saturday night sporting event since the NFL playoffs in January, cruising past North Carolina/Syracuse in the NCAA Final Four (8.1).
Cleveland was the top market Saturday night with a 39.8 rating. Figures for Marlins/Indians in 1997 were not available. Compared to the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, Saturday’s game topped both this year (37.4) and 2007 (30.1) but trailed 2015 (45.7). Game 4 had a 30.1 in Chicago, down 29% from White Sox/Astros in 2005, which saw the South Side team clinch its first title since 1919.
(Sat. numbers from Fox Sports)
