World Series ratings second-lowest on record

HOUSTON - OCTOBER 22: Tom Verducci at World Series Game 1: Washington Nationals at Houston Astros on Fox Sports at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports/PictureGroup)

Thanks to a sixth and seventh game, the World Series avoided an all-time ratings low.

The seven-game Nationals-Astros World Series averaged an 8.1 rating and 13.91 million viewers on FOX, marking the lowest rated World Series since Giants-Tigers in 2012 (7.6) and the least-watched since Giants-Royals in 2014 (13.83M).

Overall, Washington’s seven-game win ranks as the second-lowest rated and fourth-least watched World Series on record. It would have set all-time lows had it not extended to seven games; its five-game (11.64M) and six-game (12.39M) averages trailed the current low of 12.66 million in 2012.

While one of the more memorable World Series in recent years — owing to Washington’s upset run and the road team winning every game — Nationals-Astros never broke out of record-low territory. The series accounts for the lowest rated and least-watched Game 2, Game 4, Game 5 and Game 7 in World Series history, with Game 4 the lowest rated game on record.

Ratings and viewership declined 2% from last year’s five-game Red Sox-Dodgers series (8.3, 14.13M). Compared to the last seven game series, Astros-Dodgers two years ago, ratings and viewership fell and 24% and 26% respectively from a 10.7 and 18.91 million.

Including streaming, the series averaged 14.01 million (-3%).

If low by World Series standards, Nationals-Astros still did well compared to the rest of television. It averaged more viewers than any primetime program so far this TV season, save for NFL games and news programming.

It did not compare as well to other marquee sporting events. For the tenth time in 12 years, the Fall Classic averaged a lower rating and viewership than the NBA Finals. The six-game Raptors-Warriors series averaged an 8.8 and 15.14 million on ABC.

It also trailed the NCAA Tournament Final Four on CBS (9.5, 16.23M) and the College Football Playoff on ESPN (20.40M).

The World Series averaged a record-low 3.5 rating in adults 18-49, falling below the previous mark of 3.6 for Red Sox-Dodgers last year and Giants-Tigers in 2012. As with the overall viewership, the record-low demo rating still exceeds all primetime entertainment shows.

Locally, it averaged a 35.1 rating and 57 share in Houston and a 23.3/43 in Washington DC.

World Series average ratings, viewership, past 20 years

[Nielsen estimates from Fox Sports, AP 10.31, Los Angeles Times 10.30]

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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Comments 11

DCA says:

7 years ago

As a former baseball fan, I’ve thought about what might get me interested again. I know MLB would never do this, but I would go to five or six inning games. I understand purists would say that teams need nine innings to decide a contest, but for me, two to two and a half hours is long enough to figure out a winner (and already more than I can take). Shortening the game would also place more importance on every at bat and MLB wouldn’t have to fool with all these time between pitches, number of relievers used stuff that seems kind of artificial and amateurish. Stats would be affected, but between steroids, juiced balls and analytics, they have become random and meaningless anyway.
Sean OLeary says:

7 years ago

“It also trailed the NCAA Tournament Final Four on CBS (9.5, 16.23M) and the College Football Playoff on ESPN (20.40M).”

This is an odd comparison, for a series average vs 1 winner take all game. Game 7 beat both of those, which would be a more apt comparison.
- Paulsen says:
  
  7 years ago
  
  The numbers are the three-game averages for the Final Four and CFP.
Rick says:

7 years ago

Again, games are too long, too many relievers and too many strikeouts and not enough balls in play. I began following the game when the average game time was two and a half hours and If I were a millennial I’d probably be watching the NBA more as well
METS95 says:

7 years ago

Just a small correction, Game 6 was the second-lowest Game 6 on record. Overall, how do you think MLB feels about the ratings of this series? I think the last two games of this series were really strong considering where they started. Thanks.
- Paulsen says:
  
  7 years ago
  
  Thanks for catching that — will fix. I think MLB/FOX will ultimately be satisfied. While I don’t think near-record lows can just be handwaved away as meaningless because all of TV is in decline, I also think that the numbers hold up well compared to almost anything else on TV.
Garry says:

7 years ago

Thanks for pointing that out as I thought nats ratings for game 7 outdrew the caps in game 5 in DC. That makes sense now.
insideguy says:

7 years ago

They are addressing it esl sorry don’t know how to reply. They have shortened time between innings and next year they will institute a rule where you can’t pull a pitcher unless he throw to three batters. They have gotten rid of throwing pitches for an intentional walk. But there is only so much you can do. Its not a game with a clock. Again yes baseball ratings have shrunk but its still healthy. No other sporting event this year has had as many viewers as the 7th game of the WS except the NFL and the final of college football. Granted the NBA had a down year. But its not like these other sports are kicking but in ratings. NHL game 7 had 8 million viewers.
- billiam says:
  
  7 years ago
  
  but a pitch clock doesn’t effect the timelessness that makes baseball great. the result of the game isn’t dependent on the clock the way a play clock in football doesn’t decide the game. it’s the game clock that does. Even with a pitch clock baseball won’t have a game clock. You still have to get the final out to win the game, you wouldn’t be able to run out the clock on a team which is why not having a game clock is great in the first place and a pitch clock won’t change that. Baseball is becoming less exciting, the same number of exciting things happen in a game that takes twice as long as it used to. These ratings are still healthy but baseball is losing viewers and losing status fast. As a baseball fan since I was 5 i’ve watched this fall happen and in my entire fandom the only complaint i’ve ever heard from anyone is that the game is too slow or boring. I can’t blame them right now. .In 1981, a world series game averaged 2h50m, and in 2019, a series where only 1 game was decided by less than 3 runs, a game took an average of 3h44 minutes. that’s just way to long to ask someone to pay attention. the publicity alone of having a pitch clock should bring people back at the very least. Baseball purists will not leave the game if there is a pitch clock. bored fans are leaving by the hundreds right now with one
Garry says:

7 years ago

Wow game 7 ratings for the Nats was lower than the game 5 clincher for the caps. This was a game 7 and it was outdone by a game 5?
- Paulsen says:
  
  7 years ago
  
  The 23.1 in this article is for the seven-game series. As noted in the Game 7 article, Nats’ Game 7 outdrew Caps’ Game 5 in DC.