A high-scoring, unpredictable Fall Classic thriller — at least until Game 7 — generated the some of the best World Series ratings in more than a decade.
The seven-game Astros-Dodgers World Series averaged a 10.7 rating and 18.9 million viewers on FOX, down 18% in ratings and 19% in viewership from Cubs-Indians last year (13.1, 23.4M) but up 23% and 29% respectively from the five-game Mets-Royals series in 2015 (8.7, 14.7M).
Outside of the Cubs’ historic victory last year and the Yankees’ six-game win over the Phillies in 2009 (11.7, 19.4M), this year’s World Series was the highest rated since 2005 (CHW-HOU: 11.1) and the most-watched since 2004 (BOS-STL: 25.4M).
World Series ratings have now averaged double-digits for a second-straight year, a marked turnaround after five of the previous seven failed to even crack a 9.0.
While viewership declined overall, the series posted increases on both Fox Deportes (476K, +34%) and Fox Sports GO (183K, +4%). The former set an all-time record for the World Series on Spanish-language television.
Astros-Dodgers was not the best matchup on paper, a non-traditional pairing of one-time division rivals. While the teams hailed from top ten television markets, big market series have gone bust before (Giants-Rangers matched the #5 and #6 markets in 2010). The ratings mirrored the on-field play — solid but unspectacular in Game 1 before wildly exceeding expectations in Games 2-6 and finally ending with an anti-climax in Game 7.
Compared to other sports, the World Series averaged a lower rating and fewer viewers than the five-game Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals (11.3, 20.4M), marking the eighth time in ten seasons that the NBA has topped the Fall Classic. It also trailed the three-game College Football Playoff (11.8, 21.7M), but was slightly ahead of the three-game NCAA men’s basketball Final Four (10.7, 18.8M).
The World Series averaged a 5.1 rating in adults 18-49, down 24% from last year (6.7) but up 24% from 2015 (4.1). The 5.1 is the third-highest average in the demo since Red Sox-Rockies in 2007 (5.6), behind only last year and 2009 (6.2). Adults 18-49 made up 35% of the average audience, while adults 55+ made up 50%.
Figures for Wednesday’s Game 7 are discussed here. A full list of World Series ratings dating back to 1972 is available here.
World Series Ratings Chart
[This year’s averages from Fox Sports]
