Ratings Roundup: 2018 World Series Begins After NLCS Game 7 Hits Big in Local Markets; ESPN Captures Best NBA Opening Week in Four Years By Kristian Hernandez, Assistant Editor
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - 10:12 am
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Ratings roundup is a rundown of rating news from the past week and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, the 2018 World Series began in Boston after the Championship Series portion of the Postseason closed on a more positive note in the National League, NBA opening week action on ESPN captures the most fans in four years, the NFL and college football season roars on, and more international soccer action took place on UniM s.
Big Numbers in NLCS Finale Gives Way to the 2018 World Series
The 2018 World Series began at Fenway Park last night, and the Boston Red Sox took Game 1 after an 8-5 win. The contest averaged a 10/18 overnight rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. Between 8-11 p.m., the game averaged a 10.2, which projects to be Fox's highest-rated game on a Tuesday night since Game 6 of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. In local markets, L.A. 24.8/42, up 2% over last year's Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. In Boston, the game registered a 35.1/55 to become the best overnight rating of a baseball game in Beantown since the last time the Red Sox won the World Series in 2013
As for the NLCS, the Dodgers' Game 7 win over the Milwaukee Brewers produced a 4.9 rating, a 26% increase over last year's series winner (3.9 in 2017's Game 5). In local markets, Los Angeles posted a 15.9 and Milwaukee finished with a 30.7. Both marks are the highest ratings on FS1 in respective markets. As for the previous games, Game 6 on Friday night had a 3.4 and 5.78 million, down 29% in ratings and 30% in viewership from the last LCS Game 6, Yankees-Astros last year (4.8, 8.23M). Versus the previous NLCS Game 6 - Dodgers-Cubs in 2016 - ratings fell 35% (from 5.2) and viewership 40% (from 9.71M) (SportsMediaWatch). Game 5 of the Brewers-Dodgers NLCS drew a 2.4 and 3.75 million on FS1 - down 25% in ratings and 28% in viewership from Dodgers-Cubs on TBS last year (3.2, 5.23M) and down 43% and 48% respectively from Cubs-Dodgers on FS1 in 2016 (4.2, 7.19M) (SMW)
In the ALCS, Boston's Game 4 win in Houston was marred by controversy over a fan interference call that changed the course of the game. Nevertheless, last Wednesday's contest earned a 3.8 rating and 6.18 million viewers on TBS, up 23% in ratings and 30% in viewership from Astros-Yankees on FS1 last year (3.1, 4.74M) and up 111% and 125% respectively from Indians-Blue Jays on TBS in 2016 (1.8, 2.75M), both of which aired in the afternoon. It was the first game of the series that noted an increase (SMW). The Game 5 clincher in Minute Maid Park earned a 4.0 rating and 6.52 million viewers on TBS, up 21% in ratings and 24% in viewership from Astros-Yankees on FS1 last year (3.3, 5.25M) and up 111% and 128% respectively from Indians-Blue Jays on TBS in 2016 (1.9, 2.86M). The contest was the third highest-rated game of the postseason (SMW)
Overall, TBS's exclusive coverage of the American League throughout the 2018 MLB Postseason delivered significant viewership increases across all Turner platforms. TBS's live game telecasts propelled the network to win the night across all of cable television nine times, per metered market delivery. With an average of 4,933,000 total viewers, TBS's MLB Postseason coverage was up 55% vs. 2016 - the last time the network televised the American League - and generated a 7% increase over last year's coverage, based on Nielsen Fast Nationals. This year's coverage on TBS was the network's second most-watched MLB Postseason of the Wild Card era.
Other highlights include:
The 2018 MLB Postseason on TBS garnered double-digit increases across all key demos including 47% growth among People 18-49 vs. the network's comparable coverage in 2016.
Viewership for TBS's ALCS coverage was up 74% over 2016, the last time the network televised the ALCS, with an average of 5.8 million viewers.
In Boston, ALCS Game 5 generated a 26.2 HH rating, the highest rating for an MLB telecast in the local market on any network since 2013 and TBS's best for any MLB game in Boston in a decade.
MLB on TBS postgame studio coverage throughout the 2018 MLB Postseason produced a 9% increase compared to last year, based on metered market delivery.
Turner's TV Everywhere platforms delivered an increase of 50% in total streaming minutes per game during the MLB Postseason vs. 2017.
Bleacher Report's MLB handle registered increases of 24% in Twitter impressions over last year.
Lakers-Rockets Lead ESPN's Most-Watched NBA Opening Week Since 2014
ESPN generated its best NBA opening week rating since 2014 on Saturday for LeBron James' home-opener with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Nielsen. The Lakers vs. Rockets game telecast drew a 2.5 metered market rating, also making it the highest-rated NBA regular season game on ESPN since the Warriors 73rd win game in April of 2016. Additionally, it is ESPN's highest-rated NBA game ever on a Saturday, excluding Christmas games.
Saturday's telecast peaked on ESPN with a 2.9 metered market rating at both 11:30-11:45 p.m. ET and again from 1-1:15 a.m. In Houston, the telecast drew a 4.8 rating, making it the highest-rated NBA regular season game on ESPN in the Houston market since 2013. It drew a 3.7 rating in the Los Angeles market. NBA After The Buzzer, ESPN's new NBA post-game show, delivered a 2.1 rating from 1:15-1:30 a.m.
ESPN's NBA weekend ratings success began with its Friday doubleheader, as both games were up from last year. The Toronto Raptors victory over the
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Ratings Roundup: 2018 World Series Begins After NLCS Game 7 Hits Big in Local Markets; ESPN Captures Best NBA Opening Week in Four Years By Kristian Hernandez, Assistant Editor 
