With the NFL dominating the ratings Monday, the MLB Division Series got off to a slow start on TBS.
Monday’s Yankees-Rays MLB American League Division Series Game 1 averaged 2.33 million viewers on TBS, down 34% from last year’s first primetime Division Series game, which also aired on TBS but on a Thursday night (Nationals-Dodgers: 3.51M). Compared to the Yankees’ LDS opener against Minnesota last season, a Friday night game on MLB Network, viewership fell 30% from 3.35 million.
Keep in mind that New York’s win overlapped with two competing NFL games (Patriots-Chiefs: 14.60M; Falcons-Packers: 8.65M). Last year Nationals-Dodgers game only had to face one (Rams-Seahawks: 14.26M), while Twins-Yankees faced no NFL competition at all.
Though down from last year, viewership did increase 10% over the comparable window two years ago, Braves-Dodgers on MLB Network (2.12M).
While Monday’s competition was particularly steep, the Division Series will get no reprieve any time soon. The LDS shared the stage with the NBA Finals Tuesday night and is scheduled to face a vice presidential debate on Wednesday, more NFL on Thursday, and another NBA Finals game on Friday.
Earlier Monday, Astros-A’s Game 1 averaged just 1.42 million — down 59% from last year (Braves-Cardinals: 3.51M) and down 42% from 2018 on FS1 (Rockies-Brewers: 2.46M). Viewership did increase 2% over Houston’s playoff opener against Tampa Bay last season, which aired on FS1 on a Friday afternoon (1.39M).
Going back to the Wild Card series, Friday’s Cardinals-Padres Game 3 delivered the largest audience of the postseason thus far with a 1.45 rating and 2.60 million viewers. It edged the two Yankees-Indians games, which averaged 2.54 and 2.59 million.
Earlier in the day, Marlins-Cubs Game 2 averaged a 1.4 and 2.19 million on ABC. The final half-inning was cut off for news coverage.
