NESN and YES Network drew huge numbers for Sunday’s Yankees/Red Sox season opener.
The Red Sox’ 9-7 win over the Yankees drew a 19.7 rating on NESN in Boston Sunday night, the highest rating ever for a Red Sox season opener on the network. The 19.7 rating marks a 10% increase from last year’s season opener (17.9), which had previously been the record.
Sunday’s game ranks as the 5th-highest rated program in NESN history.
In New York, Sunday’s game drew a 10.0 rating on YES, the second-highest rating for any regular season sporting event ever on the network. Only the 2005 Red Sox/Yankees Opening Night game drew a higher rating (11.6).
Ratings for the YES Network broadcast peaked at a 12.5 from 8:45-9 PM.
Nationally, the game drew a 2.4 overnight rating on ESPN2, up a tick from Phillies/Braves last year (2.3). The ESPN2 broadcast was blacked out in Boston and New York.
