ESPN’s MLB Opening Day tripleheader struck out in the ratings.
Thursday’s Red Sox-Mariners Major League Baseball Opening Night game scored a 0.8 rating and 1.19 million viewers on ESPN, down a third in ratings and 40% in viewership from last year (Giants-Dodgers: 1.2, 1.97M), and down 62% and 60% respectively from Cubs-Cardinals in 2017, which aired in the Sunday Night Baseball window (2.1, 3.62M).
The Mariners’ win ranks as the lowest rated MLB Opening Night game since at least 2000. The previous low was a 1.1 for Indians-Angels in 2001. It was also the least-watched Opening Night game since at least 2007.
Keep in mind the game aired directly opposite the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, while previous openers avoided such competition.
Earlier in the day, ESPN scored 704,000 viewers for Orioles-Yankees and 538,000 for Diamondbacks-Dodgers — down 11% and 35% respectively from last year’s comparable games, Cubs-Marlins (789K) and Astros-Rangers (823K). Both games were subject to local blackout.
In other Opening Day action, Braves-Phillies scored a 10.1 rating on Philadelphia NBC affiliate WCAU — up 105% from the team’s opener last season. The game marked Bryce Harper‘s Phillies debut. ESPN Plus aired the game nationally, but traditional ratings figures are not available for that over-the-top service.
[Numbers from Nielsen via Programming Insider 3.29, ShowBuzz Daily 3.29, Philadelphia Business Journal 3.29]
