As one would expect, Yankees-Red Sox ratings have been the strongest of the Division Series.
Friday’s Yankees-Red Sox American League Division Series Game 1 earned a 3.35 rating and 5.57 million viewers on TBS, up 59% in viewership from last year (Cubs-Nationals: n/a, 3.50M) and up 158% and 152% respectively from 2016 on FS1 (Dodgers-Nationals: 1.3, 2.21M).
Compared to the Yankees’ ALDS opener against Cleveland last year, which aired on a Thursday night on FS1, ratings increased 44% (from 2.3) and viewership 47% (from 3.79M).
Boston’s win delivered the second-largest audience for a Division Series opener since 2010 (Yankees-Twins: 6.91M). Game 1 of Giants-Cubs had 5.71 million on FS1 two years ago.
Game 2 of the series on Saturday night had a 3.0 and 5.06 million — up 82% in ratings and 80% in viewership from last year (D’Backs-Dodgers: 1.65, 2.81M) and up 19% and 10% respectively from Giants-Cubs on MLB Network in 2016 (2.5, 4.61M).
The Yankees’ series-tying win, which peaked with 5.8 million from 10-10:15 PM ET, was the most-watched Saturday Division Series game since 2008 (Cubs-Dodgers Game 3: 5.22M).
As for the other AL series, Game 1 of Indians-Astros had 1.91 million on TBS Friday, up 17% from last year (Red Sox-Astros: 1.63M) and up 19% from 2016 (Blue Jays-Rangers: 1.61M). Game 2 had a 1.6 (-24%) and 2.50 million (-29%).
The National League has not fared nearly as well. Dodgers-Braves Game 3 had a 1.8 and 3.02 million on FS1 Sunday night, down 40% in ratings and 43% in viewership from Indians-Yankees in the same window last year (3.0, 5.29M) but up 38% and 42% respectively from 2016 (Rangers-Blue Jays: 1.4, 2.37M). The 2016 game aired opposite a presidential debate.
Earlier in the day, Brewers-Rockies had a 1.15 and 2.00 million on MLB Network — down 23% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (Astros-Red Sox: 1.6, 2.34M). Versus a rescheduled Dodgers-Nationals game in 2016, ratings increased 55% (from 0.7) and viewership 61% (from 1.24M). Both of those games aired on FS1.
Despite the lower numbers, Milwaukee’s sweep-clinching win was the fourth-most watched Major League Baseball game ever on MLB Network.
On FS1 Friday, Braves-Dodgers Game 2 had a 1.2 rating and 2.03 million viewers (-31%) and Rockies-Brewers Game 2 a 1.1 (-42%) and 1.77 million (-45%). Including the declines for Friday’s series openers, five of six NLDS games declined entering Monday’s play.
[Numbers from Nielsen via Programming Insider 10.8, ShowBuzz Daily 10.8, 10.9; Turner Sports PR/Twitter 10.7, MLB Network PR/Twitter 10.8, Fox Sports PR/Twitter 10.8]
