For the third time in four years, a World Series game attracted less than 7% of U.S. television households.
Saturday’s Cardinals/Rangers Game 3 earned a 6.6 final rating and 11.247 million viewers on FOX, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — down 2% in ratings and viewership from last year (SF/TEX G3: 6.7, 11.460M), and down 28% and 27%, respectively, from 2009 (NYY/PHI G3: 9.1, 15.397M).
Last year’s Game 3 began before 7 PM ET. The 2009 Game 3 began after 9 PM ET due to rain.
The Cardinals’ blowout win ranks as the second-lowest rated, second-least viewed World Series game ever. Only Game 3 of the 2008 World Series, which began after 10 PM ET due to rain, earned lower numbers (TB/PHI: 6.1, 9.836M).
Saturday’s game was the third World Series game in four years to draw less than a 7.0 rating. For some perspective, the last NBA Finals game to fall below the 7.0 mark was in 2007 (SA/CLE G4: 6.5), and the last NCAA Final Four game to do so was in 2003 (KU/MARQ: 6.3).
The World Series does have good company in the form of the Bowl Championship Series. This year’s Fiesta Bowl drew a 6.3 U.S. rating on ESPN, and the Orange Bowl earned a 6.7.
Among adults 18-49, Saturday’s game drew a series-low 3.2 rating. Demo ratings for last year’s Game 3 were not available.
Game 3 drew a 39.3 rating in St. Louis, down 24% from Tigers/Cardinals Game 3 in 2006. The 2006 game aired on a Tuesday night.
In Dallas-Ft. Worth, Game 3 drew a 29.4 rating — up 9% from Giants/Rangers Game 3 last year (26.9). By comparison, Game 3 of this year’s Mavericks/Heat NBA Finals drew a 26.7 local rating on a Sunday night, and Game 3 of the 2006 Heat/Mavericks series drew a 34.0 on a Tuesday.
Final ratings and viewership for Sunday’s Game 4 of the series are available here.
10 Lowest Rated World Series Games Ever
|
#
|
Date
|
Game
|
#
|
Series
|
Net
|
U.S. Rating
|
Viewers (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sat., 10/25/08 | TB 4, PHI 5 |
3
|
PHI 2-1
|
FOX |
6.1
|
9,836
|
|
2
|
Sat., 10/22/11 | STL 16, TEX 7 |
3
|
STL 2-1
|
FOX |
6.6
|
11,247
|
|
3
|
Sat., 10/30/10 | SF 2, TEX 4 |
3
|
SF 2-1
|
FOX |
6.7
|
11,460
|
|
4
|
Sat., 10/21/06 | STL 7, DET 2 |
1
|
STL 1-0
|
FOX |
8.0
|
12,840
|
|
5
|
Thu., 10/23/08 | PHI 2, TB 4 |
2
|
TIE 1-1
|
FOX |
8.1
|
12,777
|
|
T6
|
Thu., 10/28/10 | TEX 0, SF 9 |
2
|
SF 2-0
|
FOX |
8.5
|
14,130
|
|
T6
|
Sat., 10/27/07 | BOS 10, COL 5 |
3
|
BOS 3-0
|
FOX |
8.5
|
14,055
|
|
8
|
Wed., 10/19/11 | TEX 2, STL 3 |
1
|
STL 1-0
|
FOX |
8.7
|
14,174
|
|
9
|
Mon., 11/1/10 | SF 3, TEX 1 |
5
|
SF 4-1
|
FOX |
8.8
|
14,950
|
|
T10
|
Thu., 10/20/11 | TEX 2, STL 1 |
2
|
TIE 1-1
|
FOX |
8.9
|
14,280
|
|
T10
|
Wed., 10/27/10 | TEX 7, SF 11 |
1
|
SF 1-0
|
FOX |
8.9
|
15,009
|
UPDATE 10/25: Updated viewership information and added adults 18-49 rating.
(This year’s numbers from Fox Sports Media Group press release via TV By the Numbers; additional information from TV By the Numbers)
