After an increase in the overnights, final numbers for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game hit a record-low for a third-straight year.
The 2012 MLB All-Star Game drew a 6.8 final rating and 10.9 million viewers on FOX Tuesday night, down a tick in ratings and 1% in viewership from last year (6.9, 10.970M), and down 9% and 10%, respectively, from 2010 (7.5, 12.118M).
Though down only slightly from last year, this year’s All-Star Game ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed ever. This is the third straight year the game has hit a record-low.
Compared to other All-Star Games, Tuesday’s telecast drew a lower rating and fewer viewers than the NFL Pro Bowl (7.3, 12.498M). This is the third straight year the Pro Bowl has drawn more viewers than the MLB All-Star Game — a previously unheard-of proposition. Just three years ago, the MLB game topped its NFL equivalent by 66%.
With that said, the MLB All-Star Game did outdraw the NBA All-Star Game on TNT (4.4, 7.070) and the NHL All-Star Game on NBC Sports Network (0.8, 1.317M).
In the key adults 18-49 demographic, Tuesday’s game drew a 3.2 rating — up a tick from last year (3.1). The game trailed both the Pro Bowl (4.3) and the NBA All-Star Game (3.3) in the demo.
The game also earned a 3.0 rating among adults 18-34, up 11% from last year (2.7).
Home Run Derby Hits Three-Year High: While the All-Star Game itself hit a record low, Monday’s Home Run Derby was up from last year. The telecast drew a 4.1 U.S. rating and 6.882 million viewers on ESPN, up 3% in ratings and viewership from last year (4.0, 6.686M), and up 3% and 7%, respectively, from 2010 (4.0, 6.418M).
This marks the most-viewed edition of the Home Run Derby since 2009 (5.1, 8.250M).
Host market Kansas City was the top market for Monday’s Derby (15.1), but ranked only second for the All-Star Game itself (18.7). Nearby St. Louis led all markets for Tuesday’s game (20.5).
(Tuesday’s numbers from Fox Sports Media Group press release via TV By the Numbers; Monday’s numbers from ESPN, MLB press release via Fang’s Bites)
