The Yankees’ first playoff game in three years delivered a major boost in overnight ratings.
The Astros/Yankees American League Wild Card game had a 5.7 overnight rating on ESPN Tuesday night, up 50% from Athletics/Royals last year (3.8) and 68% from Reds/Pirates in 2013 (3.4), both on TBS. Compared to last year’s Pirates/Giants N.L. Wild Card Game on ESPN, the overnight increased 39% from a 4.1. The game peaked at a 6.4 from 10-10:15 PM ET.
The Astros’ shutout win scored the highest overnight for any MLB telecast on cable in nearly four years — since the 2011 Division Series. It also matched the highest overnight for MLB coverage on ESPN since the 2003 playoffs, not including the Home Run Derby.
During last year’s playoffs, no game prior to the World Series exceeded the previously mentioned 4.1 overnight for Pirates/Giants.
To put the numbers in perspective, only one college football game so far this season has had a higher overnight — Ohio State/Virginia Tech on Labor Day (6.6).
The game drew a 14.8 rating in Houston, the highest ever for MLB on ESPN in the market. It also had a 12.0 in New York, the market’s highest MLB rating on ESPN since 2012.
(Tue. numbers from ESPN)
