The MLB regular season tied a record-low rating on FOX, but the network’s season finale posted a double-digit increase. In other news, viewership tanked for the final day of the MLB season on TBS, and the WNBA Finals delivered mixed results over the weekend.
MLB Regular Season Ties Record-Low Rating on FOX
The MLB regular season averaged a 1.3 rating and 2.1 million viewers on the FOX broadcast network, flat in ratings and up 2% in viewership from last year (1.3, 2.0M) and down a tick and 3% respectively from 2015 (1.4, 2.1M). The 1.3 rating ties last year and 2014 as the lowest ever for an MLB season on broadcast television.
Saturday’s season finale, which featured Astros-Red Sox in 80% of markets, had a 1.2 rating and 1.8 million viewers — up a third in ratings and 34% in viewership from last year (0.9, 1.3M) and up 10% and 14% respectively from 2015 (0.8, 1.1M). Later in the day on Fox Sports 1, Brewers-Cardinals had a 0.21 (+31%) and 325,000 viewers (+33%).
No Stakes Equals Big Drop For MLB Finale on TBS
With nothing on the line, Sunday’s Dodgers-Rockies MLB on TBS finale had just 115,000 viewers — down 66% from Blue Jays-Red Sox last year (342K) and down 73% from Angels-Rangers in 2015 (432K). It was the season’s least-watched game on national television.
WNBA Finals Mixed Over the Weekend
Sunday’s Lynx-Sparks WNBA Finals Game 4 earned a 0.31 rating and 491,000 viewers on ESPN, down 3% in ratings and 4% in viewership from the same matchup last year (0.32, 513K) and down 3% and a fraction of a percent, respectively, from Lynx-Fever in 2015 (0.32, 493K). Game 3 on ESPN2 Friday night drew a 0.27 and 433,000 (+19%).
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 10.3]
