The 2012 World Series matchup is set between the San Francisco Giants (Go Giants!) and the Detroit Tigers.
2010's San Francisco v. Texas World Series went five games and tied for the lowest household ratings ever for the Fall Classic. It just missed being the lowest average viewership ever, but ended up ahead of the rain plagued 2008 series.
2011's St. Louis v. Texas World Series saw a big jump, not because of the teams involved, but because it went seven games. Every potential clinching game drives up the numbers.
Here's your chance to guess the average viewership** for the 2012 World Series.
Since the longer the Series goes, the higher the viewership and ratings rise, to keep the guessing comparable, make your average viewership guess assuming a 5 game Series (the average World Series length in the last 10 years was 5.3 games).
That being the case, I like a 5 game series to average 15 million viewers, slightly more than the 2010 series.
What's your guess?
World Series Ratings Data, 1968-2011:
| Year | Net | #Telecasts | rating | Share | Homes | Viewers | Teams |
| 2011 | FOX | 7 | 10.0 | 16 | 16,600,000 | Texas Rangers/ St. Louis Cardinals | |
| 2010 | FOX | 5 | 8.4 | 14 | 14,300,000 | Texas Rangers/San Francisco Giants | |
| 2009 | FOX | 6 | 11.7 | 19 | 19,400,000 | New York Yankees / Philadelphia Phillies | |
| 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.
**Of course average viewership means nothing to advertising revenue, but like most historical ratings data, we lack historical demo group ratings for comparison.
Copyright © 2012 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
GO GIANTS!!!!!!
I am not American. I notice in that table that there has been a big decline in the World Series ratings over the years. 10 years ago it used to get about 20 million, 20 years ago about 30 million but now has dropped to around 15 million. Why has there been such a big decline in baseball’s popularity? I see the ratings for NFL and they are as huge as ever so why baseball not so popular?
“I am not American. I notice in that table that there has been a big decline in the World Series ratings over the years. 10 years ago it used to get about 20 million, 20 years ago about 30 million but now has dropped to around 15 million. Why has there been such a big decline in baseball’s popularity? I see the ratings for NFL and they are as huge as ever so why baseball not so popular?”
In the case of sports championship TV ratings, baseball isn’t unique, basketball and hockey ratings have declined over the recent decades as well. NFL Football is the unique case, the ratings for the Super Bowl continue to increase.
Hopefully it is a great series. The divisional series were some of the best ever but the LCS were both less than spectacular. If this goes 6 or 7 games then the ratings will be there.
Two relatively big markets, great players. We could see some decent numbers if it goes for more than 5 games.
@ Jon.
Speed and lack of “excitement” of the game, other TV alternatives, mid 90s strike/steroids…
Thank you Bill Gorman. In America, which sport is more popular, baseball or basketball?
Note that up to 4 World Series telecasts can compete with NFL games now. (2 Thursdays (Game 2 and Game 7?), Sunday (Game 4) and Monday (Game 5?) Game 3 competes with College Football as well. That wasn’t always the case.
Sweeeep. Under 13 million.
the numbers on the list are way off , last years ws was highest rated in 15 yrs .
The Giants are boring. They have no real stars maybe Buster Posey. The Tigers are loaded. I would rather have seen the Cards. The Giants are a top 5 market but the Cardinals have more fans around the country.
@jon92929
Bill wouldn’t be able to tell you whether basketball or baseball is more popular. If you go by ratings it is too close to call. Only difference is basketball skews much younger. Baseball makes more money due to the fact they play twice as many games and the stadiums hold about twice as many seats as basketball. I would say basketball is more popular with the 18-49 easily. Baseball has it’s old folks that have stayed loyal.
I feel like this article should have said Go Tigers instead of Go Giants!
Out of curiosity, are you a Giants fan? Because I look at the beginning of the article and it says, “Go Giants!” In any event, looking forward to the World Series. Let’s play ball!
“the numbers on the list are way off , last years ws was highest rated in 15 yrs .”
Not on the planet I like to call Earth.
“Out of curiosity, are you a Giants fan? Because I look at the beginning of the article and it says, “Go Giants!” In any event, looking forward to the World Series. Let’s play ball!”
Indeed, the founders of TVBTN are both Giants fans.
“I feel like this article should have said Go Tigers instead of Go Giants!”
When you’re writing the article, you can encourage whoever you like.
Go Cards!…..oh yeah. Oh well. Guess i’ll just be rooting for a sumo wrestling match between Prince Fielder and Pablo Sandoval.
This World series averages depending on length of series:
4 games=14.2 million
5 games=15.0 million
6 games=15.8 million
7 games=17.1 million
Interesting looking at the table. Notice how in the 80s it didn’t matter who was in the world series, america loved baseball. I mean an all Missouri series between the Cardinals/Royals over 30 million. Twins/Braves over 30 million. Twins/Cardinals over 30 million. Blue Jays/Braves over 30 million. That just tells you how much Baseball’s popularity has gone down. If any of these matchups happened these days it would be lucky to break 14 million.
Bill,
last year’s WS was actually ahead of 2010 WS through 5 games.
It’s true NBA and NHL ratings have declined from previous decades (though the NBA is on a 5 year rise that doesn’t seem it would stop in the near future), MLB ratings and the popularity of baseball in general have cratered since the 1994 strike (and maybe a few years before also). 20 years ago baseball was still a national sport like the NFL is today, in the since that you’d still watch the playoff even if your team isn’t in it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_television_ratings
Should be a fairly evenly matched series but I think Detroit’s pitching will allow them to take it in 6, but probably more like 2006/2010 #s rather than 2009
15% think it will be below 13 mil? Lol Not a chance. These are good sized markets. At least 15 mil.