The Tampa Bay Rays spectacular collapse on Wednesday night may have been the best thing to happen for baseball.
Game 5 of the 2008 American League Championship Series drew a strong 4.7 rating and 7.2 million viewers on TBS Thursday night, down 45% in ratings and viewers from an 8.5 with 13.1 million for Game 5 of last year’s ALCS, which aired on FOX. Last year’s NLCS, which aired on TBS, ended after four games.
The Red Sox’ comeback victory over the Rays was the third-most viewed non-NFL sporting event of the year on cable, behind Lakers/Spurs Game 4 in June and July’s MLB Home Run Derby.
From 10:55 to the conclusion of the game, when the Red Sox’ made their comeback from down 7-0, ratings rose to a 5.3 with 7.9 million viewers. From 10:45-11 PM, the game drew a 25.5 in Tampa/St. Petersburg and a 15.4 in Boston. By the 12-12:15 AM quarter hour, the rating in Boston was a 22.1 while the rating in Tampa was a 20.7.
Through five games, Rays/Red Sox is averaging a 3.9 rating and 6 million viewers on TBS, up 39% and 40% from a 2.8 with 4.3 million for Rockies/Diamondbacks in ’07.
Most viewed sporting events on cable in 2008.
excluding the NFL
9.1 million: 2008 Home Run Derby (7/14/08, 8:19 PM ESPN)
7.3 million: NBA Playoffs, Lakers/Spurs Game 4 (5/27/08, 9 PM TNT)
7.2 million: ALCS, Rays/Red Sox (10/16/08, 8 PM TBS)
6.8 million: NBA Playoffs, Spurs/Lakers Game 5 (5/29/08, 9 PM TNT)
6.7 million: College football on ESPN, Alabama/Georgia (9/27/08, 7:45 PM ESPN)
6.7 million: NASCAR on ESPN, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (7/27/08, ESPN)
