World Series ratings returned to form thanks to one of the last best storylines in sports, the Chicago Cubs’ now-broken 108-year curse.
The seven-game Cubs/Indians World Series averaged a 13.1 rating and 23.4 million viewers on FOX, up 51% in ratings and 59% in viewership from last year’s five-game Royals/Mets series (8.7, 14.7M), up 60% and 69%, respectively, from the seven-game Giants/Royals matchup in 2014 (8.2, 13.8M), and the highest rated and most-watched Fall Classic since Red Sox/Cardinals in 2004 (15.8, 25.4M).
The previous highs over that span were an 11.7 and 19.4 million for Yankees/Phillies in 2009.
Overall, the Cubs’ first World Series victory in 108 years posted the third-best averages for the event since Yankees/Braves in 1999 (16.0, 23.7M) — behind Red Sox/Cardinals in ’04 and Yankees/Diamondbacks in 2001 (15.7, 24.5M). It was just the third World Series in the past nine years to average a double-digit rating, joining Yankees/Phillies in 2009 and Cardinals/Rangers in 2011 (10.0).
All seven games of the series hit multi-year highs in ratings and viewership, including the largest MLB audience in 25 years for Game 7 (40.0M), the most-watched Games 5 and 6 since 1997, the most-watched Game 3 since 2004, and the most-watched Games 1 and 2 since 2009. Cubs/Indians generated five of the thirteen largest baseball audiences since 2004.
In adults 18-49, the World Series averaged a 6.7 rating — up 63% from last year (4.1), up 81% from 2014 (3.7) and the highest average in the demo since 2004 (8.8). It averaged a 5.3 in adults 18-34; last year’s average in the demo was not available.
Compared to other sports, the World Series averaged a higher rating and viewership than the seven-game Cavaliers/Warriors NBA Finals (11.4, 20.2M), and indeed every NBA Finals since Bulls/Jazz in 1998 (18.7, 29.0M). This year was the first since 2009 and just the second in the past nine years in which the World Series has topped its NBA counterpart. Keep in mind Cubs/Indians did not beat Cavaliers/Warriors in any of the young adult demographics — trailing 25% in adults 18-34 (7.1 to 5.3), 11% in adults 18-49 (7.5 to 6.7) and pulling even in adults 25-54 (7.9 for each). It was the adults 55+ demo that put MLB over the top, with the World Series posting a 61% advantage over the NBA (12.2 to 7.6).
The World Series also averaged a higher rating and viewership than the three-game College Football Playoff, which averaged an 11.0 and 19.7 million on ESPN. Turner Sports never released average figures for the NCAA Tournament Final Four, but none of the three games managed an 11.0 rating or 18.0 million viewers.
For the ongoing fall television season, the World Series ranks as television’s top show in adults 18-49 — topping, among other programs, Sunday Night Football. Keep in mind the highest rated SNF games took place before the TV season began in late September.
(Series avg. from Fox Sports, with additional info from Michael Mulvihill/Twitter 11/3)
