If Game 6 is any indication, ALCS ratings should be through the roof in Game 7.
Friday’s Yankees-Astros ALCS Game 6 had 8.2 million viewers on FS1, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 46% from Blue Jays-Royals in 2015, the previous ALCS Game 6 (5.6M). Compared to last year’s Dodgers-Cubs NLCS Game 6, viewership fell 15% from 9.7 million. Ratings were not immediately available.
The Astros’ series-tying win, which peaked with 9.7 million viewers from 10:30-10:45 PM ET, was the most-watched ALCS game since Tigers-Red Sox Game 6 on FOX in 2013 (9.0M).
Excluding the World Series, Game 6 was the seventh-most watched MLB Postseason game since 2011 — behind three Red Sox-Tigers games (the last LCS to air completely on broadcast television) and three Cubs games.
If there was any doubt that tonight’s Game 7 on FS1 would outdraw the most recent LCS Game 7, Cardinals-Giants on FOX in 2012, Friday’s Game 6 already did — topping the 8.1 million who watched San Francisco complete a 3-1 comeback. The 2012 Game 7 aired opposite Monday Night Football and a presidential debate.
Including the Spanish-language audience on Fox Deportes (269K) and streaming viewership on Fox Sports GO (116K), Game 6 had 8.6 million viewers — which would make it the fourth-most watched postseason game since ’11.
Both Houston and New York turned in a 16.5 rating for Friday’s game. As one would expect, given neither the Astros nor Yankees have ever played a game on FS1 this late in the postseason, the network set records in both markets.
[Fri. numbers from Fox Sports PR/Twitter 10.21a, 10.21b]
