Recent sports TV ratings, including the World Cup third-place match, last weekend’s national MLB telecasts, and local MLB ratings during the first half of the season.
World Cup Third-Place Match Down Big on FOX
The Belgium-England FIFA World Cup third-place match had 3.33 million viewers on FOX last Saturday, down 30% from 2014 (Brazil-Netherlands: 4.75M) and down 34% from 2010 (Uruguay-Germany: 5.05M). The same match had 1.57 million on Telemundo, with that number rising to 1.62 million with streaming included. Spanish-language figures in 2014 were not immediately available.
For a complete wrap on this year’s World Cup ratings, see the following.
MLB on FOX Up Entering Second Half of Season
Regional Major League Baseball coverage featuring Yankees-Indians in 68% of markets had a 1.5 rating and 2.4 million viewers on FOX last Saturday. The network did not televise a game on the comparable weekend last year.
Entering the All-Star break, FOX averaged 2.52 million viewers for its Saturday night telecasts — up 10% from last year (2.29M).
In the final national TV game before the break, Yankees-Indians scored a 0.36 rating and 564,000 viewers on TBS Sunday afternoon — up 6% in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year (Yankees-Red Sox: 0.34, 504K) and up 13% and 28% respectively from 2016 (Rangers-Cubs: 0.32, 439K).
Local MLB Ratings Flat Through All-Star Break
The 29 U.S.-based Major League Baseball teams have combined to average a 2.98 rating on their local regional sports networks, Sports Business Journal reported this week, even with last year. Of those 29 teams, slightly more than half — 15 — have posted increases.
Three of the five highest rated teams thus far have posted declines. The league-leading Cardinals are averaging a 6.76 on Fox Sports Midwest, down 5% from last year. The second-place Indians are down 15% (to 6.29) and the fifth-place Royals down 40% (to 4.68).
On a brighter note, the third-place Red Sox — who have the best record in baseball — are up 19% on NESN (to 6.19). The fourth-place Brewers are up 43% on FS Wisconsin (to 5.16). The biggest increase belongs to the Angels, up 74% on FS West (to 1.65).
Other teams with big increases include the Braves (3.09, +51%), Astros (to 3.78, +23%) and Cubs (4.13, +19%). The Yankees have posted a 10% bump on YES Network, their 3.91 rating the highest at this point of the season since 2012. On the other end of the spectrum, the moribund Orioles posted the biggest first half drop, a 50% plunge on MASN (to 2.89).
[Numbers from Nielsen, ShowBuzz Daily 7.17, Sports Business Journal 7.16, YES, Fox Sports Wisconsin 7.17, Fox Sports South 7.19]
