This from Fox Sports. For Game 1 of the American League Championship Series between Boston and Detroit which resulted in a 1-0 Tigers win and almost resulted in a no-hitter, Fox received a respectable 4.2/8 rating with an average audience of 6.8 million viewers. This is up 2% from last year’s Game 1 of the National League Championship Series which aired on Fox.
For the last time Fox carried the ALCS which was two years ago, the numbers are up 20%.
Locally, Detroit led all markets with an amazing 26.5 despite having a Michigan college football game that went into overtime. Boston was in second place with a 21.8 rating.
Here’s Fox’s press blurb.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 1 ON FOX POSTS 20% GAIN
Ties FOX’s Highest-Rated LCS Game 1 Since 2009
Boston, MA – The 2013 American League Championship Series got underway last night with the Detroit Tigers taking the 1-0 nail-biter and no-hitting the hitting-rich Boston Red Sox until there was one out in the ninth inning, and the audience on FOX reflected the drama. The game delivered a 4.2/8 national household rating, with 6.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research, up 20% compared to Game 1 of the 2011 ALCS on FOX (3.5/7; 5.8 million viewers) which pit the Tigers against the Texas Rangers. Last night’s game tied 2010 as FOX’s highest-rated Game 1 of an LCS since Angels-Yankees in 2009 (5.2/10; 8.4 million).
Additional highlights:
- Up 2% over last year’s 4.1/6 with 6.8 million viewers) for NLCS Game 1 on FOX (Cardinals -Giants) which aired on a Sunday with NFL lead-in.
- The game posted a household rating of 4.0 with 6.4 million viewers pre-11:00 PM ET and increased 23% to 4.9 with 7.8 million viewers after 11:00 PM ET.
- FOX is projected to win the night among Households and Adults 18-49.
- ALCS Game 1 is projected to deliver FOX its best Saturday night prime time since the NFL playoffs in January.
- Despite competition from a Michigan football game, Detroit led all markets (26.5), +23% from Detroit’s rating for 2011 ALCS Game 1 on FOX (21.5/38); Boston followed (21.8/42).
- Viewership steadily grew throughout the night: 8:00-8:15 – 2.4/5; 9:00-9:15 – 3.3/6; 10:00-10:15 – 4.7/9; 11:00-11:15 – 4.7/9; 12:00-12:15 AM ET – 5.5/12
That’s all.
