Bedeviled by rain delays (and the Tampa Bay Rays), the 2008 World Series had the lowest average viewership ever (13.6 million). Barring a 4 game sweep plus something else extraordinary, the 2009 World Series featuring the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies should easily beat those ratings. The last time the Yankees were in the World Series (2003) the average viewership topped 20 million. I think a seven game series this year could test the 20 million level. Anything shorter than seven games and I think that 17 million average looks like a reasonable target.
In this century, for World Series average viewership to break 20 million, it requires the Yankees or the Red Sox. Although in 2000, even the Yankees couldn't pull an all NY matchup above 20 million.
Full World Series Ratings Data, 1968-2008:
| Year | Net | #Telecasts | Rating | Share | Homes | Viewers | Teams |
| 2008 | FOX | 5 | 8.4 | 14 | 13,635,000 | Tampa Bay Rays/Philadelphia Phillies | |
| 2007 | FOX | 4 | 10.6 | 18 | 11,994,000 | 17,123,000 | Boston Red Sox / Colorado Rockies |
| 2006 | FOX | 5 | 10.1 | 17 | 11,282,000 | 15,812,000 | St. Louis Cardinals /Detroit Tigers |
| 2005 | FOX | 4 | 11.1 | 19 | 12,272,000 | 17,162,000 | Chicago White Sox/Houston Astros |
| 2004 | FOX | 4 | 15.8 | 26 | 17,270,000 | 25,390,000 | Boston Red Sox/St. Louis Cardinals |
| 2003 | FOX | 6 | 12.8 | 22 | 13,834,000 | 20,142,000 | Florida Marlins / NY Yankees |
| 2002 | FOX | 7 | 11.9 | 20 | 12,645,000 | 19,261,000 | Anahiem Angels/San Francisco Giants |
| 2001 | FOX | 7 | 15.7 | 26 | 16,519,000 | 24,528,000 | Arizona Diamnondbacks / NY Yankees |
| 2000 | FOX | 5 | 12.4 | 21 | 12,657,000 | 18,081,000 | NY Yankees / NY Mets |
| 1999 | NBC | 4 | 16.0 | 26 | 16,105,000 | 23,731,000 | NY Yankees / Atlanta Braves |
| 1998 | FOX | 4 | 14.1 | 24 | 14,050,000 | 20,340,000 | NY Yankees / San Diego Padres |
| 1997 | NBC | 7 | 16.7 | 29 | 16,410,000 | 24,790,000 | Florida Marlins / Cleveland Indians |
| 1996 | FOX | 6 | 17.4 | 29 | 16,890,000 | 25,220,000 | NY Yankees / Atlanta Braves |
| 1995 | ABC | 6 | 19.5 | 33 | 18,710,000 | 28,970,000 | Atlanta Braves / Cleveland Indians |
| 1994 | Baseball Strike | ||||||
| 1993 | CBS | 6 | 17.3 | 30 | 16,330,000 | 24,700,000 | Toronto Blue Jays / Philadelphia Phillies |
| 1992 | CBS | 6 | 20.2 | 34 | 18,820,000 | 30,010,000 | Toronto Blue Jays / Atlanta Braves |
| 1991 | CBS | 7 | 24.0 | 39 | 22,060,000 | 35,680,000 | Minnesota Twins / Atlanta Braves |
| 1990 | CBS | 4 | 20.8 | 36 | 19,320,000 | 30,240,000 | Cincinnati Reds / Oakland Athletics |
| 1989 | ABC | 4 | 16.4 | 29 | 15,090,000 | 24,550,000 | Oakland Athletics / San Francisco Giants |
| 1988 | NBC | 5 | 23.9 | 39 | 21,610,000 | 34,490,000 | Los Angeles Dodgers / Oakland Athletics |
| 1987 | ABC | 7 | 24.0 | 41 | 21,230,000 | 35,340,000 | Minnesota Twins / St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1986 | NBC | 7 | 28.6 | 46 | 23,640,000 | 36,370,000 | New York Mets / Boston Red Sox |
| 1985 | ABC | 7 | 25.3 | 39 | 21,740,000 | 34,510,000 | Kansas City Royals / St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1984 | NBC | 5 | 22.9 | 40 | 19,270,000 | 28,010,000 | Detroit Tigers / San Diego Padres |
| 1983 | ABC | 5 | 23.3 | 41 | 19,570,000 | 29,540,000 | Baltimore Orioles / Philadelphia Phillies |
| 1982 | NBC | 7 | 27.9 | 49 | 23,370,000 | 38,070,000 | St. Louis Cardinals / Milwaukee Brewers |
| 1981 | ABC | 6 | 30.0 | 49 | 24,480,000 | 41,370,000 | Los Angeles Dodgers / NY Yankees |
| 1980 | NBC | 6 | 32.8 | 56 | 25,380,000 | 42,300,000 | Philadelphia Phillies / Kansas City Royals |
| 1979 | ABC | 7 | 28.5 | 50 | 21,730,000 | 37,960,000 | Pittsburgh Pirates / Baltimore Orioles |
| 1978 | NBC | 6 | 32.8 | 56 | 24,450,000 | 44,278,950 | NY Yankees / Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 1977 | ABC | 6 | 29.8 | 53 | 21,720,000 | 37,150,000 | NY Yankees / Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 1976 | NBC | 4 | 27.5 | 48 | 19,580,000 | 34,720,000 | Cincinnati Reds / NY Yankees |
| 1975 | NBC | 7 | 28.7 | 52 | 19,980,000 | 35,960,000 | Cincinnati Reds / Boston Red Sox |
| 1974 | NBC | 5 | 25.6 | 46 | 17,540,000 | 29,080,000 | Oakland Athletics / Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 1973 | NBC | 7 | 30.7 | 57 | 20,320,000 | 34,750,000 | Oakland Athletics / NY Mets |
| 1972 | NBC | 7 | 27.5 | 58 | NA | NA | Oakland Athletics / Cincinnati Reds |
| 1971 | NBC | 7 | 24.2 | 59 | NA | NA | Pittsburgh Pirates / Baltimore Orioles |
| 1970 | NBC | 5 | 19.4 | 53 | NA | NA | Baltimore Orioles / Cincinnati Reds |
| 1969 | NBC | 5 | 22.4 | 58 | NA | NA | NY Mets / Baltimore Orioles |
| 1968 | NBC | 7 | 22.8 | 57 | NA | NA | Detroit Tigers / St. Louis Cardinals |
*While there were six telecasts for the 2008 series, there were only five games. The sixth telecast was the completion of game five which was suspended due to rain.
Copyright © 2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
I wonder if new york’s total tv viewing numbers plummet when the Yankees lose to the Phightin’ Phills in 6. You know, because they’ll spend November sweeps crying instead of watching prime time.
I would argue that the Cubs being involved in the World Series would probably be the biggest blockbuster of them all from a ratings perspective (and I say this as a die-hard White Sox fan). Of course, this would entail the Cubs actually making it to the World Series, where the chances are so remote that it would likely coincide with some apocalyptic disaster.
Frank, not only would a Cubs story line pull in all the casual viewers, it would perhaps even pull in some viewers who otherwise would be completely uninterested. But yeah, there are the apocalyptic trade-offs to consider…
Two large TV markets (NY and Philly) vs. two evenly matched teams – high ratings.
Back to 20 million+
Ratings should be good even as the Phillies sweep. People like me will watch if only to witness A-Rod choke again.
Dave, not so sure.
Look at the graph again. The lower rated series are usually ones with two teams from the same region or even city. San Francisco/Oakland in 1989, Mets vs. Yankees in 2000, Angels/Giants in 2002.
Could just be California sucks there, though. But the Yankees, Red Sox, and The Atlanta Braves, of all things, seem to give the audience a boost.
As for the Phillies, the town’s wild about them and we’ll watch. And if the rest of America doesn’t want to because Philly’s there, screw ‘em.
Angels/Giants really wasn’t low (though as a Giants fan, it was a low for me!) but it was helped massively by going 7 games.
I think MLB would be lucky to get 16 million for this World Series.
As a baseball fan, it is an intriguing matchup. The problem is that MLB (and Fox) does a terrible job in promoting the sport. Also, it doesnt help when the series is played in to November, where I’m sure there will be weather issues. I am expecting this series to average between 15-16 million. And, it may hit 18 million for a 7 game series.
MLB must do a better job marketing the sport to get the ratings back up.
Should be pretty high 18-19M. I just wonder if it is going to snow – as this is the latest by far the series has ever started.
Pat, indeed on the weather. Will A-Rod become Mr. November?
Sundays game rating will be huge as it has Favre vs Packers (going to over 90% of the country) as a leadin.
Sunday’s game will also be aided by the lack of Sunday Night Football on NBC. Next week is NBC’s bye (which is replaced by the season-opening Thursday game).
I guarantee that the Favre v Packers football game will have a higher rating than any of the World Series games (excluding maybe a game 7).
If the Series is competitive….next Sunday is going to be a landmark day for Fox.
1pm — Eagles vs. Giants, two huge markets.
415 — Favre returns to Green Bay, holy #$&@&
8pm — Philly/Yankees World Series with a gigantic lead-in.
Sean, I agree the potential is there for a repeat of yesterday’s “perfect storm” where a highly watched game bumps into baseball. The Packers game will certainly *start* highly watched, and if it’s close, look out.
Sunday will be potentially much better because there is no Sunday Night Football game scheduled.
Perfect storm? Please. Last night was a wimpy category 3!
Perfect storms don’t have the New York market flipping back and forth between the Giants and the Yankees.
If Vikings/Packers is close that will be huge, especially since there is no SNF competition.
Perfect Storm analogies now retired.
….unless it rains.
I don’t think it should be retired, merely reserved for “Aaron Rodgers leads Packers to a dramatic victory over nemesis Favre in overtime, leading directly into the epic World Series game 1 contest between the Phillies and the Yankees which the Yankees won in 11 innings on walk off home run by Derek Jeter”
Separately it is surprising to me that the scheduling fates are such that well in advance NBC (or perhaps due to the NFL?) winds up pleading “no contest” during the first Sunday night of November Sweeps.
NBC/NFL never schedules a SNF game vs the world series now.
That game has now basically become the thursday nite NBC opener game.