2008 World Series lowest rated ever.

The five game series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays averaged an 8.4/14 rating and 13.6 million viewers on FOX, down 21% and 22% from a 10.6 and 17.1 million for last year’s Red Sox/Rockies series, and the lowest rated, least watched World Series on record. Phillies/Rays was down 17% and 14% from the previous holder of that dubious distinction, the 2006 matchup between the Cardinals and Tigers.

Game 5 drew a combined 9.6 rating and 15.8 million viewers on Monday and Wednesday night, with the Monday portion drawing an 8.2 average and 13.4 million, and the conclusion on Wednesday putting up a superb 11.9/18 rating and 19.8 million. Game 5’s conclusion on Wednesday night was the only individual World Series telecast to draw a double digit rating.

The 8.4 average for the World Series falls below several major events on the sports calendar, including the final round of The Masters (8.6), horse racing’s Kentucky Derby (8.9) and Belmont Stakes (9.0), the Daytona 500 (10.2), the Final Four (9.4), the Bowl Championship Series (9.5) and June’s NBA Finals (9.3). This year marks the first time since 1998, and only the third time ever, that the NBA Finals drew a higher rating than the World Series during the same calendar year. In ’98, Bulls/Jazz drew an 18.7 rating, while Yankees/Padres averaged a 14.1.

The 8.4 does top the ratings for three of the five BCS telecasts on FOX, as well as the ratings for the final round of the U.S. Open (7.5).

While the ratings for the World Series were clearly affected by the weather, there is no doubt this series would have drawn a record low rating no matter what the circumstances. The 8.1 rating for Game 2, which was not affected by weather and aired on a Thursday night, is a good indicator of that. However, had there been no disruptions due to rain, the average for this series could have risen into the high 8.0-low 9.0 range.

Since 2004, when the Red Sox’ four game sweep of the Cardinals drew the highest World Series ratings of the decade, ratings for the Fall Classic have dropped 47%. The four World Series since the Red Sox’ victory are the four lowest rated World Series in history.