After three record lows, the American League Championship Series ended on a far better note.
Game 6 of the Blue Jays/Royals ALCS drew a 3.4 final rating and 5.6 million viewers on Fox Sports 1 Friday night, down 38% in ratings and viewership from Tigers/Red Sox on FOX in 2013, which aired on a Saturday night. Compared to the last LCS Game 6 on cable — Dodgers/Cardinals on TBS on a Friday night in 2013 — ratings and viewership declined only 8% and 7%, respectively, from a 3.7 and 6.1 million.
Friday’s numbers do not include nearly 45 minutes of rain delay coverage, which had 4.6 million viewers.
The Royals’ series-clinching win ranks as the second-most watched program in the history of Fox Sports 1, including its days as Speed Channel. Only Astros/Royals Game 5 in the Division Series had a larger audience (5.9M). Since the Speed-to-FS1 rebrand took place in 2013, MLB postseason games have accounted for five of the six most-watched programs on the network.
Game 6 easily topped the previous four on FS1, which ranged from 2.6 to 3.1 million viewers and earned four of the six smallest LCS audiences ever. It was not, however, the top game of the series — trailing Game 1 on the FOX broadcast network one week earlier (4.0, 6.5M).
(Fri. numbers via TV Media Insights)
