The World Series Strikes Back
October 25, 2007 11:39 AM
The first game of the World Series on Fox posted its best rating in three years.
With the popular Boston Red Sox playing the Colorado Rockies, the game hit a 5.8 rating among adults 18 to 49 in the national Nielsens, up 61 percent from last year's Cardinals-Tigers match.
Among total viewers, the game was seen by 16.9 million, up 31 percent.
The figures reverse a World Series Game 1 downward trend in recent years, despite the match being a blowout, with the Sox winning 13 to 1.
Like any major sporting event, the game throws its competitors numbers off balance, making week-to-week comparisons suspect.
That said, ABC came in second place with “Pushing Daisies,” down 19 percent from last week to a 3.0, which is a rather steep drop even with the game, particularly since “Private Practice” was up a couple notches to a 4.5. At 10 p.m., “Dirty Sexy Money” also was up slightly to a 3.2.
CBS is up a peg for the second consecutive week, with “Kid Nation” earning a 2.5. “Criminal Minds” was down a tick to a 3.9 and “CSI: NY” was down 7 percent to a 3.8.
Coming in fourth, NBC premiered “Phenomenon” at 8 p.m. to a 2.9, besting the time-period debut of “Deal or No Deal” in the slot in September.
The live show featured “mentalists” performing their acts for judges Uri Geller and Criss Angel with the help of celebrities. The acts included one performer playing Russian roulette with a series of nailguns and another making Carmen Electra claim she felt his touch from several feet away.
Following “Phenomenon,” NBC had “Bionic Woman,” which was down a notch to a 3.3, and then “Life,” dropping 11 percent to a 2.5.
On The CW, “America’s Next Top Model” was down slightly to a 2.3, while “Gossip Girl” was steady with a 1.2. The story is the same in The CW’s target 18 to 34 demo.
Updated at 2:19 p.m.
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Comments (23)
Pushing Daises was also up against the early part of the game. Once it got out of hand, people went back to watching other things which is likely why the later ABC shows were up in terms of numbers.
Posted by Matt | October 25, 2007 12:20 PM
go redsox
Posted by d-back fan | October 25, 2007 2:04 PM
Fox's broadcast of mlb baseball is horrible. The announcers are terrible (the girl announcer), and the display on HD is pathetic. TBS did a remarkable job with the dlcs and nlcs. Incorporating baseball personalities with broadcasters from teams around the league made for a enjoyable viewing. It is painful watching Fox.
Posted by Casey | October 25, 2007 2:07 PM
FOX MLB coverage rocks
Posted by JB | October 25, 2007 2:18 PM
Fox isn't so bad. TBS was HORRIBLE!!!!
Posted by soxfan07 | October 25, 2007 2:25 PM
I like the Red Sox, but I can't stand that so-called 'commentator' who overanalizes every throw to the point of nausea. The strip across the top tells me what is really happening, so I tend to minimize the sound.
Thw worst offense is when that windbag claims the pitcher put the ball in any particular place "on purpose."
And finally, the home plate UMP who makes to many bad calls, according to their computer analysis display. They should either get rid of the display, or the UMP, I don't care which!
Posted by Red Blanchard | October 25, 2007 2:25 PM
TBS coverage was biased and ridiculously bad the lead off line thing was a bust dumbest thing I have ever seen.
Posted by Z | October 25, 2007 2:28 PM
TBS coverage was biased and ridiculously bad the lead off line thing was a bust dumbest thing I have ever seen.
Posted by Z | October 25, 2007 2:28 PM
Anyone else hearing a "siren-sound" throughout Fox's broadcast of the games? It's mild when the crowd noise is low, then when something happens and the crowd claps or cheers...the siren sound in the backgroud gets louder! Is this some new thing they have to squelch the crowd noise? Believe me it's there. It's like the European Police siren sound. Someone has to tell Fox to stop it. It's spoiling and interferring with the enjoyment of the game and it could turn off viewers!
Posted by G. Rogers | October 25, 2007 3:06 PM
Go Rockies. Rock the Sox!
Posted by Rox Fan | October 25, 2007 3:52 PM
TBS's coverage of LCS was painful to watch. McCarver does have a tendency to point out the obvious, but his insight is great for people who who are just learning the game.
Oh yea, hey Johnny Damon, Roger Clemens, and yankee fans: HOW DO YOU LIKE US NOW!!!!
REDSOX NATION FOREVER! We're America's team :)
Posted by Red Sox Dynasty | October 25, 2007 4:22 PM
Well, it is Fox, so that wailing noise you heard in the background was GWB.
Posted by Tinfoilhat | October 25, 2007 4:26 PM
17 million people out of 300,000 million is not good. hell 75,000,000 use to watch sit coms in the 60s when we had half the population as now.
Posted by Rick | October 25, 2007 5:14 PM
Wouldn't it nave been wonderful seeing the Rockies & the Tribe in the World Series?
Refreshing, however, regardless of how much you pay, no one can "buy" the World Series!
Although I'm rooting for The Dog, can you imagine facing the BoSox lineup?
TBS...Fox...the coverage has been disgraceful! I certainly hope MLB wakes up! With coverage like this, another strike might feel less painful!
Posted by Billy Goat Bill | October 25, 2007 5:15 PM
How can anyone watch baseball anymore?
Most of the players are on drugs, selig refuses to punush any of them but pete rose is banned from baseball?
The rockie's don't even deserve to be there, in the one game eplayoff their guy never touched homeplate!
Cheater, liars and druggies and you idiots keep watching!!!!!!
Posted by michael meltzer | October 25, 2007 5:15 PM
Uhh, go Sox......?
Posted by William Robinson | October 25, 2007 5:35 PM
Hey, it's very important to see the velocity of the pitch when it is thrown, and not later. Especially when the quality of the pitching is so high. Come on, you can do this!!
Posted by Jack Damonte | October 25, 2007 6:10 PM
Hey, it's very important to see the velocity of the pitch when it is thrown, and not later. Especially when the quality of the pitching is so high. Come on, you can do this!!
Posted by Jack Damonte | October 25, 2007 6:10 PM
Hey, it's very important to see the velocity of the pitch when it is thrown, and not later. Especially when the quality of the pitching is so high. Come on, you can do this!!
Posted by Jack Damonte | October 25, 2007 6:10 PM
Hey, it's very important to see the velocity of the pitch when it is thrown, and not later. Especially when the quality of the pitching is so high. Come on, you can do this!!
Posted by Jack Damonte | October 25, 2007 6:10 PM
With all due respect, Jack, do you have a speech impediment?
Posted by Billy Goat Bill | October 25, 2007 6:37 PM
How about the fact the BOREball is the most borrrrrrrrring game on earth????
BALL.......STRIKE.......FOUL......ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Posted by Neal | October 26, 2007 2:05 AM
Remember, you heard it here first: "The Red Sox are the New Yankees!"
Posted by Red Blanchard | October 30, 2007 6:45 PM