Ratings for the NLCS are up dramatically from last year, while the ALCS is down by nearly a quarter. The NLCS is drawing higher ratings than the ALCS. So why should TBS be far more pleased with Rays/Red Sox than FOX is with Phillies/Dodgers?
Through Sunday, the first three games of Phillies/Dodgers averaged a 4.7 rating and 7.2 million viewers on FOX, up 57% and 60% from a 3.0 with 4.5 million viewers for the first three games of last year’s NLCS on TBS, but down 18% and 17% from a 5.7 with 8.7 million for the first three games of the series’ FOX aired last year, the Red Sox/Indians ALCS.
Excluding Game 2, which aired on a Friday afternoon, the series is averaging a 5.4 rating with 8.3 million viewers, down 5% from Red Sox/Indians.
Game 3 on Sunday night drew a 5.6/9 rating, the lowest for an LCS game on a Sunday night in at least six years. The 5.6 was down 15% from a 6.6 for Game 3 of Red Sox/Indians last year, which aired on a Monday night in an earlier timeslot.
Meanwhile, the first two games of the Rays/Red Sox ALCS averaged a 4.0 rating and 6.4 million viewers on TBS, down 25% and 21% from a 5.3 with 8.1 million for the first two games of last year’s ALCS on FOX, but up 38% and 52% from a 2.9 with 4.2 million for the first two games of the series TBS aired last year, the Rockies/Diamondbacks NLCS.
So far, the ALCS on TBS is tracking ahead of other marquee sporting events on cable. TNT averaged a 3.9 with 5.9 million for the first two games of the NBA Western Conference Finals in May, and a 3.6 with 5.7 million for its coverage of NASCAR over the summer.
Overall, through Sunday, the NLCS (FOX) outrated the ALCS (TBS), 4.7 to 4.0, a gap of 18%. By contrast, through the same point last year, the ALCS (FOX) was outperforming the NLCS (TBS), 5.3 to 3.0, a difference of 77%.
LCS ratings and viewership.
5.1, 7.7 mil: Dodgers/Phillies Game 1 (Thu., 10/9, 8 PM FOX)
3.4, 5.0 mil: Dodgers/Phillies Game 2 (Fri., 10/10, 4:30 PM FOX)
4.1, 6.7 mil: Red Sox/Rays Game 1 (Fri., 10/10, 8:30 PM TBS)
3.8, 6.1 mil: Red Sox/Rays Game 2 (Sat., 10/11, 8 PM TBS)
5.6, 8.8 mil: Phillies/Dodgers Game 3 (Sun., 10/12, 8 PM FOX)






