In Depth
World Series 2007 Ratings Average Second-Lowest in Televised History
Good news: Fox’s World Series coverage ratings beat last year’s ratings significantly.
Bad news: It’s the second lowest rated in televised World Series history.
Fox’s coverage of the four-game Series between the victorious Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies topped the week's ratings in sports.
The 2007 Series’ average of a 10.6/18 was up 5% from last year’s 10.1/17 average for the five-game St. Louis Cardinals-Detroit Tigers contest.
Ending the series sweep on Sunday, Game 4 of the World Series drew a 12.6/21, with 20.9 million viewers.
The Boston Red Sox’s shellacking of the Colorado Rockies during Game 1 of the World Series set the tone for viewers for the rest of the series, as ratings dropped significantly by Game 3 (11.2/18 to 9.3/15 to 8.0/15).
For the entire MLB postseason, Fox’s average jumped 25% over last year’s numbers, due in part to the lack of NLCS coverage on the network.
Fox’s 11-game 2007 postseason drew an average of 8.6/15 versus its 21-game 2006 postseason average of 6.9/12.
The NFL’s foray into overseas games didn’t seem to bump up ratings, with Fox’s Sunday regional game featuring the Giants vs. Dolphins playing in London drawing a 6.6/15, slightly down from the season regional average (6.8/15).
View the week's sports ratings here.
(Editor: Robbins)
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Comments 17
Billy-Ball
I can't help but wonder what the ratings would be if the games started an hour earlier in the East. I would venture to guess that they would grow as the evening progressed and baseball would be providing their future audiences with a chance to enjoy the Series.
Booktone
Amen, with games ending at midnight--on weeknights--no one wanted to invest an evening in a game whose conclusion they wouldn't see. Also, the endless days off, especially for the Rockies, killed whatever momentum the Series might have had going in. And why did the Sox and Indians have to twiddle their thumbs between Games 4 and 5 while both were already in Cleveland ready to play?
Gee, I'm all for including the West Coast audience, but Fox should have known that the audience for these playoffs was mostly in the East. But I guess they were too busy dreaming up new whooshing graphics and giving away tacos to notice....
Diane
The Yankees have a national audience/viewer drawing power, but the Sox and Fox -- you'd better fuggeddabowdit!
Red Sox Nation
It is a fact, documented by Major League Baseball, that the Red Sox draw more fans across the country than any other team, including the Yankees. Ratings went up because of the Red Sox; they are one of the few reasons someone would stay up to watch a game that ends after midnight. But it's crazy to start these games at 8:30 p.m. ET. Baseball, coupled with endless commercial breaks for Fox, is killing its fan base.
Vincent
Sorry, Ivy League yuppies, but this isn't 2004. The Red Sox are now Evil Empire II, and if people watch them now, it's to root against them. Just like the Yankees.
Red Sox Nation
Ivy League yuppies? What's that about?
Red Blanchard
I watched every game, as a life-long Red Sox fan; but I feel sure the weaker ratings could be caused by those idiot announcers, who felt they must over-analyse every pitch. They even complained when the pitcher wasn't changed exactly when they thought it should happen.
They seem to feel their voice must be CONSTANTLY heard, even if they have nothing to say. Too bad we don't have Red Barber or Dizzy Dean - or anyone near their caliber any more!
Fortunately, my TV has a 'mute' button.
soxsux
as a Cards fan we had the lowest world series ratings last year...who cares? we won! point is, if you're a fan ratings don't matter, u can put up with mccarver and buck. its not going to get any better for the rest of the baseball world, but i have to agree, people tuned in to see the sox lose. them and the yanks...bombs to both.
SoxFan in CA
I agree start them earlier on the weekend, but already Red Sox fans on the West Coast had to miss the first few innings of the weekday games if they were gainfully employed. And yes there are many Red Sox fans here - I went to Game 3 of the ALDS in Anaheim and half the fans there were rooting for the Sox!
The ratings issue IMHO is that there are now hundreds of other choices for people, thousands if you include VOD programming available to digital cable customers. You no longer have the casual folks tuning into the game because there is nothing else on - just the true fans!
Anthony, Mikey.
I'm 36 yrs old I love sports a lot. Here's my take on world series ratings, nielsens are whoever does the ratings-it depends if there are in to the NFL Or NBA Or MLB I don't believe em. Bye.
Anthony, Mikey.
I'm 36 yrs old I love sports a lot. Here's my take on world series ratings, nielsens are whoever does the ratings-it depends if there are in to the NFL Or NBA Or MLB I don't believe em. Bye.
Anthony, Mikey.
I'm 36 yrs old I love sports a lot. Here's my take on world series ratings = Its all jive. Thank you all. Bye.
Anthony, Mikey.
I'm 36 yrs old I love sports a lot. Here's my take on world series ratings = Its all jive. Thank you all. Bye.
Claude Williams
Bring the World Series back to October and fans will be interested again. Nov. is time for football.
Howad Mark
Ratings would be better if games start earlier. Even if they start 7pm in the east, ratings would jump. Also, maybe the first round should be four out of seven game. Then we would get the best teams, instead of the hottest team at that moment. The contests would be between better teams not the streaky ones.
Bryan
I have to agree with Anthony, Mikey. Nielsen ratings is not an accurate indicator of fan interest/enthusiasm.
Redd
HAHAHAHAHA...LMFAO! I REally DNT GIVE A KRAP! I HATE SPORTS! DIS KRAP IS BORING! it's a shame how much these sport players get paid just to PLAY a game that does nothing but make fat lazy americans more fat and lazy, and these teachers' allowances are close to nothing...im voicing my opinion...and im just an 9th grader at miramar high school!WHAT A SHAME!