Ratings continue to climb for Red Sox/Indians.
Game 5 of the American League Championship Series drew an 8.5 rating with 13.1 million viewers on Thursday night, the most for a playoff game this year, and the highest rating for Game 5 of an LCS since 2004. While there was no comparable ALCS game last year, the 8.5 marks a 13% increase over the 7.5 rating for Game 5 of the ’06 NLCS.
The 13.1 million viewers makes Game 5 the most viewed MLB telecast all year, ahead of the 12.5 million viewers for the All Star Game in July.
FOX finished #2 in total viewers on Thursday night, and #4 in adults 18-49. The game averaged a 40.7/57 in Cleveland, down from the 42.6/58 for Game 4 on Tuesday. By comparison, the NBA Finals averaged a 31.1 rating in Cleveland last June.
Through five games, the ALCS is averaging a 6.9 rating, up 30% from the 5.3 rating for the 2006 ALCS. That series, which featured the Detroit Tigers versus the Oakland Athletics, finished in a four-game sweep.
