The ALCS is picking up steam just as the series nears an early end.
Wednesday’s Red Sox-Astros American League Championship Series Game 4 earned a 3.8 rating and 6.18 million viewers on TBS, up 23% in ratings and 30% in viewership from Astros-Yankees on FS1 last year (3.1, 4.74M) and up 111% and 125% respectively from Indians-Blue Jays on TBS in 2016 (1.8, 2.75M), both of which aired in the afternoon.
Versus last year’s LCS Game 4 on TBS, Dodgers-Cubs in the same Wednesday night window, ratings fell 5% (from 4.0) and viewership 9% (from 6.79M).
Boston’s controversial win delivered the largest audience of the League Championship Series, topping Game 1 of the ALCS last Saturday (5.82M). It was the first game of the LCS to post an increase.
Overall, the game ranks third for the postseason behind the Rockies-Cubs NL Wild Card on ESPN (6.99M) and Red Sox-Yankees Game 4 on TBS in the Division Series (7.15M).
For the night, Red Sox-Astros was television’s top program in adults 18-49 (1.7) and 18-34 (1.35). The FOX series “Empire” ranked second in both demos (1.6; 1.2).
Earlier in the day, Game 5 of the Brewers-Dodgers NLCS drew a 2.4 and 3.75 million on FS1 — down 25% in ratings and 28% in viewership from Dodgers-Cubs on TBS last year (3.2, 5.23M) and down 43% and 48% respectively from Cubs-Dodgers on FS1 in 2016 (4.2, 7.19M). Those games aired in primetime.
Versus last year’s LCS Game 5 on FS1, Astros-Yankees in the same Wednesday afternoon window, ratings fell 27% (from 3.3) and viewership 29% (from 5.25M).
The Dodgers’ win was the least-watched NLCS game since Cardinals-Giants Game 3 on FS1 in 2014 (2.78M).
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 10.18]
