Numbers: MLB Ratings, Tiger, Racing

MLB ratings increased on FOX once again last weekend. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods gave the PGA Tour another lift and the NHRA and IndyCar both declined double-digits.

MLB Up on FOX Last Week, SNB Down Again

Regional Major League Baseball action featuring Mariners-Red Sox in 54% of markets had a 1.4 rating and 2.2 million viewers on FOX last Saturday, up 17% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (ft. Angels-Red Sox: 1.2, 1.9M) and flat and up 6% respectively from 2016 (1.4, 2.1M). Four of five MLB on FOX windows this season have increased.

Earlier in the day, Yankees-Rays had a 0.49 and 734,000 (+133%), marking the largest afternoon MLB audience on FS1 since April of last season (Cubs-Red Sox: 738K).

Over on ESPN, Phillies-Nationals drew a 0.8 (-20%) and 1.2 million (-22%) on last week’s edition of Sunday Night Baseball, marking the 11th of 13 Sunday night games this season to decline.

Shifting to the workweek, Cubs-Dodgers drew a 0.46 and 691,000 on Monday (+32%), followed by 560,000 viewers on Tuesday and 814,000 on Wednesday. Rounding out the recent schedule, Angels-Red Sox scored a 0.4 and 615,000 (+9%) on Thursday night, airing directly opposite Game 3 of the College World Series final on ESPN2 (1.9M).

Tiger Lifts PGA Again

First round coverage of the PGA Tour National Tournament earned 488,000 viewers on Golf Channel Thursday, up 55% from last year (315K) and up 50% from 2016 (325K). Tiger Woods is playing in the event for the first time since 2015. Compared to that 2015 tournament, Thursday’s viewership fell 15% from 575,000.

NHRA Dips

Airing directly after NASCAR Cup Series coverage, taped NHRA eliminations from Norwalk (Ohio) earned a 0.46 rating and 712,000 viewers on FS1 last Sunday — down 29% in ratings and 34% in viewership from last year (0.65, 1.1M) but up 12% and 9% respectively from 2016 (0.41, 651K).

In other action, last Sunday’s F1 French Grand Prix earned a 0.34 rating and 532,000 viewers on ESPN2. It was the first edition of the race since 2008. The IndyCar Series at Road America had a 0.22 (-41%) and 322,000 (-43%) on NBCSN.