Two of the largest markets in the country tuned in en masse to watch their teams battle in the 2009 World Series.
The now-completed 2009 World Series drew huge numbers in both New York and Philadelphia. In New York, the nation’s #1 television market, the Yankees/Phillies series averaged a 30.4/45 — up 14% from Marlins/Yankees in ’03 (26.6/39) and up 10% from Diamondbacks/Yankees in ’01 (27.7/40).
The 30.4 for the ’09 World Series in New York equals approximately 2.3 million households. By comparison, last year’s World Series averaged a 28.4 in Tampa-St. Petersburg, the equivalent of about 517,000 households.
The Yankees’ series-clinching win in Game 6 drew a massive 36.6/54, up 38% from a 26.6/42 for Marlins/Yankees Game 6 in ’03, and the highest rating for a Yankee World Series game in the market since Yankees/Diamondbacks Game 7 in ’01 (39.5/53). Game 6 peaked with a 39.5/66.
Meanwhile, in #4 market Philadelphia, the series averaged a 41.0/57 (approximately 1.2 million households) — up 13% from a 36.3/53 (appx. 1.1 million HHs) for Phillies/Rays last year.
Game 6 drew a 39.8/57 in the market, the second-lowest rating of the series in the market. the Phillies’ Game 1 win was the highest rated of the series in Philadelphia, drawing a 44.5.
Overall, New York and Philadelphia combined to average just under 3.5 million households during the World Series — more than double the nearly 1.6 million households Philadelphia and Tampa-St. Petersburg combined for in ’08.
Compared to other local sporting events in the decade, the 30.4/45 in New York trails a 44.9/67 for the ’08 Giants/Patriots Superbowl, while the 41.0/57 in Philadelphia trails a 56.0/77 for the ’05 Patriots/Eagles Superbowl, but tops a 37.5/56 for the ’01 Lakers/76ers NBA Finals.
Through Game 5, the top neutral markets for the World Series were West Palm Beach, FL (14.0/21), Las Vegas (14.0/22) and Tampa (13.5/22). Raleigh, NC had the largest increase in ratings of any neutral market, as the 12.3 rating in the market was up 112%.
Of note, considering the well-known rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox, Phillies/Yankees Game 6 drew a 14.5/26 rating in the Boston market. Ratings peaked at an 18.1/29, before falling 37% to an 11.4/29 for the final out — “by far the biggest decline of any market as Sox fans likely elected not to watch their arch-rivals celebrate.”
