The MLB Postseason got off to a stronger start, though not as strong as the last time the Yankees were involved.
Tuesday’s Twins-Yankees American League Wild Card earned a 4.2 rating and 6.7 million viewers on ESPN, up 62% in ratings and 60% in viewership from Orioles-Blue Jays on TBS last year (2.6, 4.2M), but down 14% and 13% respectively from Astros-Yankees on ESPN in 2015 (4.9, 7.73M). ESPN’s figures include streaming viewership; the TBS numbers do not.
Compared to last year’s National League Wild Card on ESPN, Giants-Mets in the National League, ratings fell 7% from 4.5 and viewership 13% from 7.71 million.
The Yankees’ win ranks fourth out of the 11 total Wild Card games (dates back to 2012), trailing the aforementioned Giants-Mets and Astros-Yankees games and Cubs-Pirates on TBS in 2015 (5.0, 8.3M). ESPN has aired four of the five most-watched Wild Card telecasts.
[Tue. numbers from Programming Insider 10.4]
