For the second-straight game, the Phillies-Astros World Series posted a slight bump in viewership and a slight dip in ratings.
Saturday’s Phillies-Astros World Series Game 2 averaged 10.79 million viewers on FOX (10.99M across all platforms), up 3% in viewership from Braves-Astros last year (10.43M) and the most-watched Game 2 in three years (Nationals-Astros: 11.93M). Keep in mind the only other Game 2 over that span was the neutral-site Rays-Dodgers two years ago (9.18M).
Despite the increase in viewership, the household rating for Game 2 — 5.3 — dipped 8% from last year’s 5.8. Game 1 also posted an increase in viewership (11.48M, +5%) and a decline in ratings (5.7, -7%). The discrepancy can be partially explained by the greater out-of-home audience on weekends; last year’s equivalent games aired on a Tuesday and Wednesday.
Just like Game 1, Game 2 ranks as the second-lowest rated and third-least watched on record.
Game 2 averaged a 2.4 rating in adults 18-49, a 1.7 in 18-34 and a 3.0 in 25-54. Just like Game 1, ratings in 18-34 increased disproportionately compared to the other demos — rising 28% versus an 8% bump in 18-49 and a slight dip in 25-54 (pending revision of last year’s numbers).
Overall, the Fall Classic was averaging 11.19 million viewers entering Tuesday’s Game 3, up 4% from last year (10.71M).
Locally, Houston turned in a 23.6 rating and 57 share for Game 1 and a 21.6/55 for Game 2. Philadelphia posted a 23.0/54 for Game 1 and a 23.5/52 for Game 2.
(Nielsen estimates from Fox Sports, ShowBuzz Daily 11.1)
