We have the final numbers from Fox Sports in what was a big night for the World Series and the network setting up a penultimate Game 7 tonight at 8:05 p.m. ET. Fox received a 12.7 rating with a 21 share, the highest ratings for a World Series game since Game 6 of the 2009 World Series that had big market teams Philadelphia and the New York Yankees. With the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals slugging out a 10-9 game in favor of the Redbirds, Fox saw a viewership of 21.1 million viewers, NFL numbers.
This marks the most watched World Series game not involving the New York Yankees dating back to 2005. Fox won the night overall, in key demographics in both the 18-34 and 18-49 categories. In Dallas, Game 6 received a 47.1/67 making it the most watched baseball game in the market’s history. For St. Louis, the numbers were a staggering 49.4/70.
This was Fox’s best ratings since the American Idol season finale in May.
The press release:
WORLD SERIES GAME 6 BANGS IT OUT-OF-THE-PARK FOR FOX
Highest-Rated & Most Watched WS Game Since ‘09
FOX Posts Best Night for Network since May; Best Thursday Night since MarchEpic. Unforgettable. Dramatic. Pick an adjective; they all apply to Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, as would many, many more.
Last night, Game 6 of the 2011 Fall Classic was just that – a classic, and tens of millions of Americans watched the fireworks unfold on FOX as clutch hits and late-game home runs filled Missouri’s chilly autumn sky. The St. Louis Cardinals, on the brink and down to their final strike not once, but twice, came back and beat the Texas Rangers 10-9 in 11 innings to force a decisive Game 7 tonight. It is the first Game 7 in the World Series since 2002, a nine-year span unprecedented in baseball since adopting the best-of-seven format in 1922.
Game 6 posted a 12.7/21 fast national household rating/share with an average viewership of 21.1 million viewers, and is the highest-rated and most-watched World Series game since Game 6 of the 2009 World Series (13.4/22, 22.3 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. Ten World Series games have been played since then. It is also the highest-rated World Series game not involving the New York Yankees since Game 4 in 2005 (13.0/21), and is the most-watched World Series game sans the nationally popular Yankees and Boston Red Sox since Game 7 in 2002 (30.8 million).
Through six games, the 2011 World Series on FOX is averaging a 9.3/15 in household rating/share, with 15.3 million viewers, +11% in rating over last year (8.4/14, 14.3 million) and 2008 (8.4/14, 13.6 million). Both were five game series. The current 9.3/15 average for the 2011 World Series would rank as the sixth highest-rated show (live+same day) in primetime, a ranking that is likely to improve with the inclusion of tonight’s rare Game 7.
The World Series on FOX Game 6 powered the network to a first place finish in Households and all key Adult, Male and Female demographics while setting numerous impressive benchmarks:
- Among Households, FOX averaged an 11.8 rating from 8:00-11:00 PM, easily eclipsing CBS (7.5), ABC (5.0), and NBC (2.7).
- Last night’s 11.8, with 19.4 million viewers in primetime gave FOX the highest-rated and most-watched night in Households on any network this broadcast season.
- The 11.8 rating and 19.4 million viewers in Primetime made last night FOX’s highest-rated and most-watched night since the American Idol Finale in May.
- Among Adults 18-49, FOX was just as dominant averaging a 5.6, beating CBS (3.0), ABC (2.8), and NBC (1.7).
Last night’s game opened with an 8.5 at 8:00 PM ET and grew steadily throughout the night averaging 11.7 from 9:00-9:30 PM ET; 12.9 from 10:00-10:30 PM ET; and 13.2 from 11:00-11-30 PM ET. The broadcast peaked with a 15.0 HH rating and 25.2 million viewers from midnight-12:30 AM ET.
As mentioned, from 8:00 to 11:00 PM ET, Game 6 averaged an 11.8 HH rating, with 19.4 million viewers. From 11:00 PM ET to its conclusion, the game averaged a 14.3 HH rating, with 23.9 million viewers, +21% in rating and +23% in viewership compared to Primetime. Post mid-night, the game averaged a 14.8 rating and 24.9 million viewers, +25% in rating and +28% in average audience.
St. Louis led all local markets for Game 6 with a 49.4/70, peaking at a 57.0/75 from 10:30-11:00 PM ET, with the final quarter hour averaging a 53.1/82. Dallas averaged a World Series-high 47.1/67, while peaking at 55.7/81 from 11:15-11:30 PM ET.
Great numbers for Fox and it hopes that Game 7 will be just as epic as last night. Here’s MLB’s official press release.
CLASSIC WORLD SERIES GAME 6 AVERAGES 21.1 MILLION VIEWERS
2011 World Series is +11% vs. 2010 Fall Classic
Game 6 of the 2011 World Series attracted an average of 21.1 million viewers making it the most-viewed World Series game not featuring the Yankees or Red Sox since Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. Viewership peaked for Game 6 during extra innings with 25.2 million viewers.
The 9.3 U.S. household rating average for the first six games of the 2011 World Series is +11% higher than the 2010 World Series, despite a dramatic difference in the market size of the National League market (San Francisco has twice the number of homes than St. Louis).
Game 6 of the 2011 World Series was the highest rated program on television last night giving FOX its fifth primetime win in six nights and winning in all key male, female and adult demos. During its peak, nearly one-third of the televisions on in the U.S. were tuned in to the World Series.
Game 6 of the World Series delivered the highest rating ever for an MLB game in Dallas/Ft. Worth recording a 47.1 household rating. During the final hour of Game 6, 81% of TVs on in St. Louis and 80% of the TVs on in Dallas were tuned in to the game.
That’s it.
