World Series draws another big overnight

The 2009 World Series continued its hot start on FOX Thursday night.

The Yankees’ Game 2 win over the Phillies drew a 13.6 overnight rating on FOX, up a whopping 48% from Phillies/Rays Game 2 last year (9.2), up 9% from Rockies/Red Sox Game 2 in ’07 (12.5), and the highest overnight for a Game 2 in the World Series since ’04.

Phillies/Yankees Game 2 helped FOX to the highest rated Thursday night in primetime — on any network — since the BCS National Championship Game in January.

Game 2 drew a 42.5 rating in Philadelphia, off slightly from a 44.5 for Game 1, but up 38% from a 30.7 for Phillies/Rays Game 2 last year. Meanwhile, the game drew a 29.8 in New York, up a tick from a 29.7 for Game 1, and up 12% from a 26.7 for Marlins/Yankees Game 2 in ’03.

Compared to previous World Series to feature the Yankees, the 13.6 overnight for Phillies/Yankees Game 2 was down 9% from Game 2 in ’03 (15.0), down 16% from Game 2 in ’01 (16.1), down 11% from Game 2 in ’00 (15.2) and down 13% from Game 2 in ’99 (15.7).

Keep in mind that those Game 2s aired on Sunday nights, traditionally the most-viewed night of the week.

Through two games, the 2009 World Series is averaging a 13.7 overnight rating, the highest average through two games of the World Series since ’04.

Overnight ratings for Game 2 of the World Series since ’99

Source: Sports Business Daily