The National League playoffs delivered record numbers for TBS.
TBS averaged a 3.9 rating and 6.3 million viewers for coverage of the N.L. playoffs, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 44% in ratings and 48% in viewership from coverage of the American League playoffs last year (2.7, 4.3M), and up 44% and 51%, respectively, from coverage of both leagues in 2013 (2.7, 4.2M).
This year’s postseason ranks as the highest rated and most-watched ever on Turner Sports (dates back to 2007), topping the previous highs of 3.6 and 5.6 million in 2010.
The four-game Mets/Cubs NLCS averaged a 4.8 rating and 7.9 million viewers, up 50% in ratings and 55% in viewership from last year’s four-game Royals/Orioles ALCS (3.2, 5.1M) and up 50% and 58%, respectively, from the six-game Cardinals/Dodgers NLCS in 2013 (3.2, 5.0M). Compared to last year’s five-game Giants/Cardinals NLCS on FS1, ratings and viewership increased by 71% and 77%, respectively, from a 2.8 and 4.5 million.
The Mets’ sweep was the most-watched LCS on any network since 2010, when Giants/Phillies averaged 9.1 million on FOX and Rangers/Yankees averaged 8.2 million on TBS. It also averaged the second-highest LCS rating over that span, trailing only Red Sox/Tigers on FOX in 2013 (4.9).
TBS benefited from the big market makeup of the N.L. playoffs, which featured #1 market New York (Mets), #2 Los Angeles (Dodgers) and #3 Chicago (Cubs). The Cubs were the biggest draw of all, helping TBS to the four largest baseball audiences on cable since 2011 — 9.2 million for Mets/Cubs Game 3, 8.3 million for the Cubs/Pirates Wild Card Game, and 7.9 million each for Games 1 and 4 of the Mets/Cubs series.
Of the 13 postseason games on TBS that could be compared to last year, each had a double or triple digit increase in ratings and viewership. All-but-one of those hit multi-year highs in both measures. Dating back to last year, 22 of the last 24 playoff games on TBS have had an increase in viewership over the previous postseason.
Ratings/Viewership For MLB Playoffs on TBS
Asterisk (*) indicates some games aired on TNT
|
Year
|
Playoffs
|
LCS
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
TCs
|
Rtg.
|
Vwrs.
|
Series
|
Rtg.
|
Vwrs.
|
|
| 2015 | 14 | 3.9 | 6.3M | Mets Cubs |
4.8 | 7.9M |
| 2014 | 11 | 2.7 | 4.3M | Royals Orioles |
3.2 | 5.1M |
| 2013 | 24 | 2.7 |
4.2M
|
Cardinals Dodgers |
3.2
|
5.0M |
| 2012* | 24 |
2.7
|
4.1M | Tigers Yankees |
3.8 |
5.9M
|
| 2011* |
25
|
2.8
|
4.3M
|
Cardinals Brewers |
2.9
|
4.6M |
| 2010 |
21
|
3.6
|
5.6M | Rangers Yankees |
5.1 |
8.2M
|
| 2009 |
18
|
3.3 | 5.1M | Phillies Dodgers |
3.8
|
6.1M
|
| 2008 | 22 | 3.4 | 5.4M | Rays Red Sox |
4.6 | 7.4M |
| 2007 | 18 | 3.5 | 5.3M | Rockies D’Backs |
2.8 | 4.3M |
(This year’s numbers from Turner Sports)
