The Cubs/Mets NLCS continues to excel compared to previous years, though Sunday’s Game 2 was not as impressive as the opener.
Game 2 of the Cubs/Mets National League Championship Series drew a 4.8 overnight rating on TBS Sunday night, up 60% from Royals/Orioles last year (3.0) and up 71% from Dodgers/Cardinals in 2013 (2.8), both of which aired on a Saturday afternoon. Compared to Game 2 of Giants/Cardinals on Fox Sports 1 last year, which aired on a Sunday night, overnights jumped 66% from a 2.9.
The Mets’ win trailed Game 1 of the series on Saturday night, which had a 5.4 overnight. Keep in mind it faced tougher competition, airing opposite the Patriots/Colts NFL game on NBC (14.6) and an episode of The Walking Dead on AMC.
Locally, Game 2 drew a 19.0 rating in Chicago — about half of the 38.1 Marlins/Cubs Game 2 had in 2003. Keep in mind the 2003 game aired midweek on the FOX broadcast network. The game also had a 16.6 in New York; local ratings for Cardinals/Mets Game 2 in 2006 were not available.
In other weekend action, Game 2 of the Blue Jays/Royals ALCS had a 1.9 overnight rating on FS1 Saturday afternoon — down 35% from Giants/Cardinals last year (2.9) and down 67% from Tigers/Red Sox on FOX in 2013 (5.9), both of which aired on Sunday nights. Compared to Royals/Orioles Game 2 on TBS last year, which aired in the same Saturday afternoon window, the 1.9 declined 37% from the previously noted 3.0.
The 1.9 overnight is possibly the lowest ever for an LCS telecast. Last year’s lowest LCS mark was a 2.1 for Cardinals/Giants Game 3 on FS1, which aired on a weekday afternoon. Keep in mind Saturday’s game aired directly opposite the top college football game of the day, Michigan State’s win over Michigan on ESPN (5.1).
(Wknd. numbers from twitter.com/turnersportspr [1], [2]; ShowBuzz Daily)
