Though better numbers could have been expected given the presence of the Red Sox, Game 1 of the World Series scored solid numbers on FOX.
Game 1 of the Cardinals/Red Sox World Series drew an 8.6 final rating and 14.4 million viewers on FOX Wednesday night, up 13% in ratings and 18% in viewership from Tigers/Giants Game 1 last year (7.6, 12.2M), and down 1% and up 2%, respectively, compared to Rangers/Cardinals Game 1 in 2011 (8.7, 14.2M).
Wednesday’s Game 1 was the most-viewed World Series opener in three years, but also ranked as the third-lowest rated and fourth-least viewed Game 1 of all time. Excluding Saturday night games, Game 1 ranks as the fifth-lowest rated World Series telecast of any kind, and the eighth-least viewed.
Among adults 18-49, Game 1 had a 4.2 rating — up 17% from last year (3.6), and even with 2011 (4.2).
The last time the Red Sox appeared in the World Series (2007), Game 1 had a 10.5 rating, 16.9 million viewers, and a 5.8 among adults 18-49. The last time the Red Sox played the Cardinals (2004), Game 1 drew a 13.7, 23.2 million, and an 8.0 in the demo.
Though Game 1 was low historically — and certainly very low for a series involving the Red Sox — the numbers were actually not bad. Game 1 drew slightly more viewers than the opener of the Spurs/Heat NBA Finals in June (14.4M to 14.2M), though the rating was slightly lower (8.6 to 8.8). As should surprise no one, the NBA game finished comfortably ahead among adults 18-49 (5.7 to 4.2).
The Spurs/Heat series started slowly, but Games 6 and 7 lifted the final average to a strong 10.5. The World Series will likely need similar results to get into the double-digits.
The World Series was easily Wednesday’s top television draw in viewership and the adults 18-49 demo. CBS’ “Criminal Minds” was second in viewership (11.6M), and ABC’s “Modern Family” was second in the demo (3.7).
(Game 1 numbers from Fox Sports, The Futon Critic)
