The 2009 World Series got off to a strong start on FOX Wednesday night.
The Phillies’ win over the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series drew a 13.8 overnight rating on FOX Wednesday, up 34% from a 10.3/17 for Phillies/Rays Game 1 last year, up 17% from an 11.8/19 for Rockies/Red Sox in ’07, and the highest overnight for Game 1 of the World Series since ’04.
The 13.8 overnight is the third-highest of the decade for Game 1 of the World Series, and the highest for any World Series game since Red Sox/Rockies Game 4 drew a 14.3 in ’07.
Compared to Game 1 of the 2003 World Series, the last to feature the Yankees, the 13.8 for Game 1 is up 2%.
To put the numbers in perspective, the 13.8 is the highest for any non-NFL sporting event since the BCS National Championship Game in January (17.0), topping every game of the NCAA Tournament, every game of the NBA Finals, the Daytona 500, the Kentucky Derby and all four golf majors.
FOX easily won the night in primetime, trouncing second-place CBS by 122% in households.
Overnight ratings for Game 1 of the World Series since ’99
| Year | Date | Game | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Wed., 10/28/09 | Phillies/Yankees G1 | FOX | 13.8/- |
| 2008 | Wed., 10/22/08 | Phillies/Rays G1 | FOX |
10.3/17
|
| 2007 | Wed., 10/24/07 | Rockies/Red Sox G1 | FOX |
11.8/19
|
| 2006 | Sat., 10/21/06 | Cardinals/Tigers G1 | FOX |
8.6/15
|
| 2005 | Sat., 10/22/05 | Astros/White Sox G1 | FOX |
11.4/19
|
| 2004 | Sat., 10/23/04 | Cardinals/Red Sox G1 | FOX |
15.2/26
|
| 2003 | Sat., 10/18/03 | Marlins/Yankees G1 | FOX |
13.6/23
|
| 2002 | Sat., 10/19/02 | Giants/Angels G1 | FOX |
11.2/19
|
| 2001 | Sat., 10/27/01 | Yankees/D’Backs G1 | FOX |
11.8/20
|
| 2000 | Sat., 10/21/00 | Mets/Yankees G1 | FOX |
14.0/25
|
| 1999 | Sat., 10/23/99 | Yankees/Braves G1 | NBC |
15.0/26
|
Sources: MLBonFOX/Twitter, Mediaweek
