Game 7 of the World Series was a ratings hit despite hitting a record-low.
Wednesday’s Nationals-Astros World Series Game 7 averaged a 13.1 rating and 23.01 million viewers on FOX, marking the lowest rated and least-watched Game 7 of the Fall Classic on record. The previous marks were a 13.7 and 23.52 million for Giants-Royals in 2014.
The Nationals’ title-clinching win, which peaked with 27.06 million viewers from 11-11:15 PM ET, fell 17% in ratings and 19% in viewership from Astros-Dodgers in 2017 (15.8, 28.24M) and 40% and 43% respectively from Cubs-Indians in 2016 (21.8, 40.05M), the two previous game sevens.
Despite the low, Game 7 ranks as the seventh-most watched Major League Baseball game in the past 15 years, and is tied as the eighth-highest rated.
It also ranks as the top non-football sporting event of the year, topping the previous marks of 11.6 and 19.63 million for the Virginia-Texas Tech men’s college basketball national championship. The World Series has delivered the top non-football audience in three of four years, each for a Game 7.
Including football games, Game 7 ranks 17th for the year behind ten NFL playoff games, five NFL regular season games, and the Alabama-Clemson College Football Playoff National Championship (13.8, 25.38M).
Locally, Game 7 averaged a 42.7 rating and 63 share in Houston — down 9% from Astros-Dodgers in ’17 (47.1).
In victorious Washington D.C., it averaged a 31.8/53 — the market’s highest for any MLB telecast since at least 1998. The local rating, which peaked at a 39.2/74 from 11:45 PM ET through Midnight, exceeded the Capitals’ Stanley Cup Final clincher last year (25.2).
Game 7 averaged a 6.1 rating in adults 18-49, down 25% from 2017 (8.2) and down 52% from 2016 (12.6). The 6.1 is the lowest for a Game 7, falling below the previous mark set in 2014 (6.6), but the highest for any non-NFL television program since Game 6 of the NBA Finals in June (6.6).
Its 4.5 rating in adults 18-34 sank 31% from 2017 (6.5) and 57% from 2016 (10.5).
Ratings/viewership for Game 7 of the World Series, past 30 years
Highest rated/most-watched MLB games, past 15 years
| Highest rated | Most-watched | ||||||
| # | Year | Game | Rtg | # | Year | Game | Vwrs |
| 1 | 2016 | CHC-CLE Gm. 7 | 21.8 | 1 | 2016 | CHC-CLE Gm. 7 | 40.05M |
| 2 | 2017 | HOU-LAD Gm. 7 | 15.8 | 2 | 2017 | HOU-LAD Gm. 7 | 28.24M |
| 3 | 2011 | TEX-STL Gm. 7 | 14.7 | 3 | 2011 | TEX-STL Gm. 7 | 25.40M |
| 4 | 2014 | SF-KC Gm. 7 | 13.7 | 4 | 2016 | CLE-CHC Gm. 5 | 23.64M |
| 5 | 2009 | NYY-PHI Gm. 4 | 13.5 | 5 | 2014 | SF-KC Gm. 7 | 23.52M |
| 6 | 2009 | PHI-NYY Gm. 6 | 13.4 | 6 | 2016 | CHC-CLE Gm. 6 | 23.40M |
| 7 | 2016 | CHC-CLE Gm. 6 | 13.3 | 7 | 2019 | WSH-HOU Gm. 7 | 23.01M |
| 8 | 2019 | WSH-HOU Gm. 7 | 13.1 | 8 | 2009 | NYY-PHI Gm. 4 | 22.76M |
| 2016 | CLE-CHC Gm. 5 | 13.1 | 9 | 2009 | PHI-NYY Gm. 6 |
22.34M | |
| 10 | 2005 | CHW-HOU Gm. 4 | 13.0 | 10 | 2017 | HOU-LAD Gm. 6 | 22.23M |
[Nielsen estimates from Fox Sports, ShowBuzz Daily 10.31]
