Thanks to a sixth and seventh game, the World Series avoided an all-time ratings low.
The seven-game Nationals-Astros World Series averaged an 8.1 rating and 13.91 million viewers on FOX, marking the lowest rated World Series since Giants-Tigers in 2012 (7.6) and the least-watched since Giants-Royals in 2014 (13.83M).
Overall, Washington’s seven-game win ranks as the second-lowest rated and fourth-least watched World Series on record. It would have set all-time lows had it not extended to seven games; its five-game (11.64M) and six-game (12.39M) averages trailed the current low of 12.66 million in 2012.
While one of the more memorable World Series in recent years — owing to Washington’s upset run and the road team winning every game — Nationals-Astros never broke out of record-low territory. The series accounts for the lowest rated and least-watched Game 2, Game 4, Game 5 and Game 7 in World Series history, with Game 4 the lowest rated game on record.
Ratings and viewership declined 2% from last year’s five-game Red Sox-Dodgers series (8.3, 14.13M). Compared to the last seven game series, Astros-Dodgers two years ago, ratings and viewership fell and 24% and 26% respectively from a 10.7 and 18.91 million.
Including streaming, the series averaged 14.01 million (-3%).
If low by World Series standards, Nationals-Astros still did well compared to the rest of television. It averaged more viewers than any primetime program so far this TV season, save for NFL games and news programming.
It did not compare as well to other marquee sporting events. For the tenth time in 12 years, the Fall Classic averaged a lower rating and viewership than the NBA Finals. The six-game Raptors-Warriors series averaged an 8.8 and 15.14 million on ABC.
It also trailed the NCAA Tournament Final Four on CBS (9.5, 16.23M) and the College Football Playoff on ESPN (20.40M).
The World Series averaged a record-low 3.5 rating in adults 18-49, falling below the previous mark of 3.6 for Red Sox-Dodgers last year and Giants-Tigers in 2012. As with the overall viewership, the record-low demo rating still exceeds all primetime entertainment shows.
Locally, it averaged a 35.1 rating and 57 share in Houston and a 23.3/43 in Washington DC.
World Series average ratings, viewership, past 20 years
[Nielsen estimates from Fox Sports, AP 10.31, Los Angeles Times 10.30]
