The record-low ratings train rolls on with a second-straight all-time low for the World Series.
Wednesday’s Game 2 of the World Series (Rays-Dodgers) averaged an 5.0 rating and 8.95 million viewers on FOX (9.26M including Fox Deportes and streaming), marking the lowest rated and least-watched game in World Series history. The previous lows were set a night earlier by Game 1 (5.1, 9.20M). Prior to this year, the all-time lows were a 5.9 for last year’s Astros-Nationals Game 4 and 9.84 million for Phillies-Rays Game 3 in 2008.
The Rays’ win, which peaked with 9.91 million from 10:15-10:30 PM ET, declined 30% in ratings and 25% in viewership from last year (Nationals-Astros: 7.1, 11.93M) and 38% and 33% respectively from 2018 (Dodgers-Red Sox: 8.1, 13.46M). Those declines were identical to Game 1.
While steep, the declines are less sharp than those suffered by other sports. Viewership fell by more than 40 percent for the Stanley Cup Final (-61%), NBA Finals (-49%), US Open of tennis (-45%), U.S. Open of golf (-42%) and more. It should be noted that unlike most sporting events this fall, the World Series is taking place at its usual time on the calendar and facing less sports competition than usual. Last year’s Game 2 aired opposite an NBA doubleheader on ESPN and an NHL game on NBCSN.
Pending adjustments, Game 2 delivered the sixth-largest (non-NFL) sports audience since the wave of cancellations and postponements in March, with baseball owning three of the top six. Game 7 of the Braves-Dodgers NLCS holds the top spot (9.66M), followed by Saturday’s Georgia-Auburn college football game (9.61M), the Kentucky Derby (9.26M), Wednesday’s Rays-Dodgers Game 1, and Game 5 of the NBA Finals (8.96M).
Locally, the first two games averaged ratings of 20.0 and 18.1 in Los Angeles — down 19% and 18% respectively from the Dodgers’ previous World Series appearance two years ago (24.8; 22.1). Both games easily topped the Lakers’ first two NBA Finals games earlier this fall, which averaged ratings of 13.2 and 12.0. (Keep in mind both of those Laker games aired opposite Dodgers playoff games.)
In Tampa-St. Petersburg, Game 1 averaged a 14.5 and Game 2 a 16.4 — down 55% and 48% respectively from the Rays’ previous World Series in 2008 (31.9; 31.3), but still the market’s best Rays ratings since 2013. Both games easily topped the Lightning’s first two Stanley Cup Final games this fall, which averaged ratings of 8.5 and 7.0.
Game 2 averaged a 2.3 rating in adults 18-49, a 1.7 in adults 18-34 and a 2.8 in adults 25-54 — down 21, 15 and 22 percent respectively from Game 2 last year (2.9; 2.0; 3.6). Game 2 of the NBA Finals, which averaged two million fewer viewers overall, did better in 18-49 (2.4) and 18-34 (2.0) and was slightly behind in 25-54 (2.7).
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 10.22, Fox Sports]
