Major League Baseball on FOX continued to struggle in the ratings over the weekend.
Regional Major League Baseball action featuring Yankees/Angels in 66% of markets earned a 1.9 overnight rating on FOX Saturday night, down 19% from coverage featuring Red Sox/Cubs last year (2.3), but up 12% from afternoon coverage featuring Cubs/Phillies in 2011 (1.7).
The 1.9 is the second-lowest ever for Major League Baseball in primetime on a broadcast network, ahead of only a 1.7 for regional coverage earlier this season. Prior to this season, the record-low overnight was a 2.3.
Six of ten MLB telecasts on FOX this season have had less than a 2.0 overnight, compared to three of 11 at the comparable point last year. Saturday’s telecast is on pace to be the ninth of ten this season to have less than a 2.0 final rating.
As has been the case for every primetime MLB telecast on FOX this season, coverage aired directly opposite the Stanley Cup playoffs on an NBC network. According to the website ShowBuzz Daily, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final had a 2.9 overnight, comfortably defeating baseball head-to-head.
(Saturday’s numbers from Sports Business Daily, with additional info from ShowBuzz Daily)
