World Series TV Ratings: Lowest Game 1 in World Series History, Also Very Low For Game 2 [UPDATE]
TV ratings for Game 1 of the World Series: 8.8 overnight, which was the lowest Game 1 in World Series history. Despite a record-setting performance from Pablo Sandoval, and the presence of Justin Verlander, the game was a blowout.
TV ratings for Game 2 of the World Series: 8.8 overnight, which was down from last year’s Game 2. Two things working against MLB last night: Vikings/Bucs game on NFL Network (two Top 20 TV markets in Tampa and Minnesota, which are 13th and 15th, respectively) and a college football game on ESPN featuring Clemson (the South cares about Dabo and the Tigers, right?)
I’m a bit surprised a tight, 0-0 game for seven innings didn’t gain viewers as the night wore on. Maybe they were watching The Office (I checked it out; other than Andy Bernard, that show is hurting)?
One of the big issues MLB will be dealing with in the coming years is an aging fanbase. Sure, ballparks are packed all season because going to a baseball game with friends/family is fun, but when it comes to the postseason, those fans who went to games during the season aren’t watching at home. Old people are. TV Sports ratings has the breakdown:
World Series Game #1 had a 4.8 rating among Women 50+ and a 4.6 in Men 18-49
— TVSportsRatings (@TVSportsRTGS) October 25, 2012
And every buyer in the country realizes that it is a dirt old sport (as presented by FOX) that appeals more to women over 50 than young men
— TVSportsRatings (@TVSportsRTGS) October 26, 2012
Will we see adult diaper ads this year or next year? [Times Standard, Spots Media Watch]
[UPDATE: Yes, Fox "won the night." And the NFL Network pulled its lowest rating this season.]

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120 Responses to “World Series TV Ratings: Lowest Game 1 in World Series History, Also Very Low For Game 2 [UPDATE]”
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October 26th, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Really? In my opinion, Andy’s been the second worst part of that show for last two year. Nothing beats Nelly.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Ageism.
/ Let’s get ‘em, SROD
October 26th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Well, that would help during the cross-country drives.
Waitaminnit…cue the fake Internet outrage in 4…3…2…
October 26th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Nice base running by Prince last night. And a whole lotta fail from Jhonny Peralta.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
…1.
Why, I never (gets huffy, argle-bargle, etc.)!
/Let’s get ‘em, Nada
October 26th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
So what youre saying is, Fox won the night again? Ok thanks.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
NFL Network had lowest rating of the season last night
October 26th, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Parks and Rec won the night.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Will we see adult diaper ads this year or next year?
Well, that would help during the cross-country drives.
Especially those cross-country drives when you attempt to kidnap your astronaut boyfriends lover.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Weed is fine but really it’s the retirement home of recreational substances. More like an Advil or sleeping pill. It is utilitarian, nothing romantic or dramatic about it. Nothing inspiring nothing risked just laugh at bad movies while eating bad food. The biggest adventure you have with weed is procuring it.
Liquor though, liquor is planting a mine field in your own life for the sheer thrill of it. Many of you reading this would not exist if it wasn’t for booze and bad decisions. Mentally we have thousands of carefully controlled behaviors in relation to decorum only for booze to light them gleefully aflame and then jump over the fire. The swings in life is what makes it interesting, the capacity for disaster, joy, sex and joyfully disastrous sex are literally the most exciting things that can happen to a person. All is possible from booze from waking up 800 miles away in a new city to coming to bleeding in an elevator, it’s life unfiltered and inspired.
Booze > Weed.
October 26th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Ha!
October 26th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Obvious troll is obvious.
/did I do that right?
October 26th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Soused, a modern drunkard.
/applauds
October 26th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Soused, you’re a drunken poet.
/redundant
October 26th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Let us not forget this is the first year we have NFL games on Thursday nights in October
October 26th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
One of the big issues MLB will be dealing with in the coming years is an aging fanbase. Sure, ballparks are packed all season because going to a baseball game with friends/family is fun, but when it comes to the postseason, those fans who went to games during the season aren’t watching at home. Old people are. TV Sports ratings has the breakdown:
Quite possibly the dumbest thing ever written on this topic.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
I mean, is there anything better than everyone on Twitter who has watched five episodes of Mad Men being an ad executive?
Oooo new ratings numbers. Let me tell you what all this means!!
October 26th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
In the key demographic too…guess it must be that everyone is closer to 49 than 18, or something
But it’s worth mentioning again that these posts don’t mean anything, just pointin’ out facts here
October 26th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
CJ, far fewer homes have NFL Network than Fox. Come on, bro.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
That makes him a citizen of the world.
/Captain Renault’d
Soused, you have a well-spring of creativity that few can match.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:03 AM
CJ, far fewer homes have NFL Network than Fox. Come on, bro.
Paolo? That you?
October 26th, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Did I say it didnt? TBL’s the one who always wants to compare the two sports.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:05 AM
HA!
October 26th, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Regardless of what you guys think about the ratings, is it not troublesome that baseball’s audience continues to get older and older? I understand they won the 18-49 demo last night, but looking at wider trends, how many 10-30 year olds were watching the WS 15 years ago as compared to yesterday. Do you guys think MLB execs have internal discussions about this, or are they as dismissive of this topic as people on this board?
Please don’t get mad at me. I’m just asking a question.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Baseball ratings posts yawn
October 26th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Soused…bro, you’ve convinced me to leave work early today. To head to the golf course in the cold (50* here today) and drink a hot toddy. And play golf. And live.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Not when the last TV deal was as big as it was…this is a bottom line business and they’re doing well
But of course they’ve had internal discussions, that’s probably why they’ve been so far out in front when it comes to taking advantage of digital media platforms
October 26th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Mom, Dad, Mad Dog, rubber band that popped … I thank you.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
I bet less, considering there are 250 more channels to turn to.
/was this a serious question?
October 26th, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Oh, I’m sure they are their partners care a great deal about all sorts of demographic data about their fans and the population.
I think the dismissive comments here are born out of the goofy attempts at analysis with little data and less background or thoughtfulness. But hey, a new post.
Also, I’ve read soused’s comment like 5 times and it’s gotta be comment of the year. Nice, dude.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
That’s not funny, friend.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
It worries me.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Isn’t this just a guess anyway? Do these numbers only come from Nielsen homes?
October 26th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Loving this @TVSportsRTGS very unbiased tweets “So….you’re FOX Ad Sales….and you are saddled with another awful MLB deal”
I’m pretty sure FOX is ecstatic about their MLB deal, but that is just me. No one held a gun to their head.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:12 AM
I’d be more fearful of the NFL not existing in 30 years than MLB
October 26th, 2012 at 11:13 AM
I am in absolute panic mode over this and wished that this was discussed during the debates
October 26th, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Do the quotes mean you don’t care about this fact of life?
October 26th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Tim McCarver needs to be put down.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
What do you think a possible outcome could be?
Totally agree
October 26th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
I think it’s a valid question, but it’s also akin to asking “how do we stop the deterioration of culture” in general. Here’s another thing to consider….what’s the population gonna look like in 30 years?
October 26th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Hmm, didn’t realize back in dark ages of late 90′s, we still lived in an era of 4 channels. My apologies.
I understand that. And sports seems immune to the DVR disease. I think you’ll continue to see rising contract for sports leagues as Ad execs will continue to invest in sports rather than scripted programs which people are more prone to record and watch later. But At certain point, 20 years down the line, the existing baseball watchers will start to die off and it seems like baseball isn’t creating enough young viewers to replace them.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Of course, golf has had a old audience since it’s inception and it doesn’t seem to hurt the health of that sport. So maybe baseball will go the same route.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:18 AM
2 TVs…watched both. Baseball was the more entertaining game, and I prefer football.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Still see lots of kids and teenagers at baseball games during the regular season. Somehow I think this argument is full of crap.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:18 AM
we still lived in an era of 4 channels. My apologies.
Grew up in the 00′s, and still had only 7 channels.
/country livin’
//spits
October 26th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Another good point, beisbol might gain in traction going forward
October 26th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Correction, old and short.
/ Spencer’d
October 26th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Twenty years ain’t very long.
Given that, I guess it’s cheeseburgers & ice cream for breakfast. Every day.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Yes. He’s a pretty perfect metaphor for the difference between baseball as a TV show compared to the NFL.
John Madden would shout “Boom!” when someone destroyed another player’s brain. McCarver makes nonsensical 70′s pop culture references and makes people want to take a nap.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Grits Gresham? Lordamighty, I thought you was dead!
October 26th, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Like your deadbeat brother-in-law who keeps asking for a “loan.”
October 26th, 2012 at 11:22 AM
That’s a terrifying thought come Nov. 6.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
If he spoke Spanish, yep.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
golf’s unique in that it’s got a built in audience that’s wealthy and motivated to support the game since it’s got the most involved participation (pro-am’s, can walk 5 feet from them, etc).
i dont see a bunch of kids who didnt like baseball starting to like it just because they aged.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
You didn’t have to say anything else. Golf makes ad money because their audience has buying power.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
I stopped watching thursday night football(unless the Bears are playing) out of spite. I love football, but lets keep it on Sundays and Mondays…Thursday just feels unnatural and there is other shows that I would have to miss…so many shows.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Completely agree mrejr. I was ok with the occassional Thursday gamse but having them every week is ridiculous.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
I’d be curious to compare what first generation latinos in this country would consider their favorite sport as compared to 3rd or 4th generation. Someone needs to do a survey on american born latinos and their favorite sport. I’d be curious to know where baseball lands.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
This is all anecdotal stuff, yeah? In the Rochester burbs, baseball is the hardest thing to get your 6-12 year old in. Different town leagues are adding divisions and teams again.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Plus the quality’s usually not that great…Tampa’s been one of the few teams to really put together a complete performance in one of these things
I liked it better when there was just a mediocre college game going on to flip to now and then
October 26th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
This is veering down the path where sports fandom is viewed as a zero-sum game again
October 26th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Agree with mrejr… and it also creates an uneven, competitive advantages (and disadvantages) throughout the season. Annoying.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
It depends on match-ups and fantasy. I watched the whole game yesterday cause I had Doug Martin. If it weren’t for that, I’d probably not watch.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
fair enough but i played a FUCKTON of baseball as a kid and haven’t watched the sport consistently in years. as with soccer…participation doesn’t equal viewing power.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:30 AM
To be fair to both the NFL game and Baseball game, Raylan Givens was a god damn sushi chef.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
BOO!!! Take that back! Soccer is gaining traction, dammit!!!!
October 26th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Another good reason Thursday night football is kinda lame…
October 26th, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Football season is short, there’s enough randomness already. Thursday night games please go away.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:34 AM
And it fucks up everything that was supposed to be easy and relaxing about stupid fantasy football… that I only needed to care about once a week.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:36 AM
But it certainly helps.
I really do think soccer is gaining a lot of traction, especially with the changing demographics.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Shoot a nuke down a bug hole, you got a lot of dead bugs.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Couldn’t have been more pleased when the AV Club put Starship Troopers on it’s list of the 50 best movies of the 90s
October 26th, 2012 at 11:38 AM
I think Thursday night football is/was a precursor for an 18 game season schedule, have every team play on Thursdays and then add an extra bye week but since the opposition to an 18 game sked has been fierce the plan has been scrapped.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:42 AM
I thought the 18 game schedule was just a fake bargaining chip for the owners, something that was not feasible but they could pretend to compromise with. Not sure anymore, those are some cold greedy bastards.
Thursday night is for college football teams ranked 20-119th and that’s the way I likes it.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:42 AM
I’d guess latinos from Mexico and South America are really going to help in soccer’s popularity. Even without help of White Americans, there should be enough people who would push soccer toward more popularity. I mean, it’s certainly hell of a lot more popular than it was 10 years ago.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:43 AM
I am curious what that says more about. The greatness of Starship Troopers or the horrible films of the 1990′s.
/puts hand on giant rock
Its Afraid……..IT’S AFRAID!!!!!!
October 26th, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Everything I have read said the Gooddell and owners totes wanted an 18 game schedule…
October 26th, 2012 at 11:44 AM
golf is gaining traction too…both aren’t good signs for baseball.
/waiting for someone to say lacrosse is gonna blow up
October 26th, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Soused, from what I gather you are an Irish-Canadian. What made you be so interested in American politics and sports?
October 26th, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Know what I think about this?
This
October 26th, 2012 at 11:45 AM
They make a compelling case for ST
October 26th, 2012 at 11:45 AM
/waiting for someone to say lacrosse is gonna blow up
There was a professional league in the northeast that was partly financed by the Body By Jake guy. That’s quite the pedigree.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Is it? Not trying to be a dick, just wondering if there’s any data behind this, as I don’t get that impression as a casual golf fan/rabid sports fan.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Golf…AHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH Bowling is ’bout to blow up too…..
October 26th, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Awesome. Suck it Ed Wood.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:49 AM
The Office has been hurting for a long time. Seasons 1-4 are the best, 5 &6 are tolerable, after that it became unwatchable.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Because hockey is terrible and sucks.
I was in high school when Bush Jr happened and it has left an indelible mark, before you assumed there was a degree of intelligence and logic in governance. Afterwards you learn how fucking retarded and ideologically rigid these greedy cunts are. The world is interested in US politics because that country is always on the brink of destroying everything.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:51 AM
It’s the fastest growing sport in this country. Granted their fan base grew from 2 to 4 people. But, they DOUBLED their fan base!
October 26th, 2012 at 11:52 AM
oh yea…especially considering the scholarship opportunities compared to other sports.
the top guys these days are all young and athletic. a good number of them played college sports other than golf or were in those high perf athletic leages in europe and australia.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:53 AM
YOU WATCH SCRIPTED DRAMAS ACTED OUT BY OILED UP MEN IN TIGHTS. you have absolutely no room to talk.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:54 AM
#facepalm
October 26th, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Still more popular than golf tho
October 26th, 2012 at 11:55 AM
And more of a sport as well.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:56 AM
I’ll say it, in the past I’ve enjoyed watching bowling on TV…Rob Stone gives the telecast the perfect mix of professionalism and “I can’t believe I’m announcing bowling”
October 26th, 2012 at 11:57 AM
It is a fact that there are more boys turning 8 with basic cable than there are 25 year olds with expendable income.
October 26th, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Underrated Mel Brooks effort, by the way.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:00 PM
@Butters – Pretty happy to see Election getting some love on that list. As well as Dazed and Confused being so high.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:02 PM
That was a fun read, a little surprise Casino didn’t make it on there although Sharon Stone’s horribleness might explain things
October 26th, 2012 at 12:04 PM
who gives a fuck? and maybe in terms of viewership, but certainly not participation. and lets compare demographics…golf – rich, educated, elite/wrestling – dumbshit white trash.
meh…i like my sports to determine the winner based on performance, not based off a script.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
I like baseball, and golf, and Starship Troopers…not rasslin’ though, stopped wanting to bang Beadle after she was going on each week about watching RAW
October 26th, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Hey, I resemble that remark!
October 26th, 2012 at 12:07 PM
LA Confidential at 36th. I am already skeptical.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:09 PM
i wish i resembled the golf stereotype.
/kicks bank account
October 26th, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Okay, top 10 was good. I’d flip the 11-30 and 31-50 for the most part. Admittedly a # of my first beefs were on their “so close” list so I’ll give them that. Also they tried to hard at times omitting some good mainstream movies.
The omission of Heat is unforgivable.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Based on the comments Heat being excluded seemed to drum up the most rage along with Casino…I’ve never seen it so can’t speak to it, I wanted them to throw The Phantom Menace on there just to piss people off but alas
October 26th, 2012 at 12:23 PM
FUCK YEA they do. that movie’s WAY underrated.
October 26th, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Casino’s not that great. It’s exhausting.
October 26th, 2012 at 2:49 PM
Does anyone else find it interesting that when the Super Bowl comes around, we get “the most-watched” and during the World Series it’s about “the ratings” slipping.
Well, let me tell you. The ratings for the Super Bowl are down from a decade ago, and more people watch the World Series than did a decade ago.
October 26th, 2012 at 6:40 PM
Another thread saying baseball is dying.Let’s see MLB just signed a 12 billion dollar tv deal..real trouble there.
So far a rating of 8.8.Not great but up against NFL,NCAA and primetime tv.
Jason’s beloved NBA finals last year averaged a 10.1 rating according to the NBA’S own website
Yes the ratings are better..slightly.The NBA had it’s biggest stars,no competition in the summer and is barely beating the World Series number.
Truth that no one tells you since everyone kisses the NBA’S a$$,,there are a lot of people who could care less about the NBA
October 26th, 2012 at 8:17 PM
I despise the NBA. Its sad that there are about 4 or 5 teams that have a realistic chance to win it all.
This year, I say 4 teams:
Thunder
Spurs
Lakers
Heat
Isnt that fun? We can play an 8 month season to basically weed out the 26 teams that done have a chance. Awesome.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:18 PM
*don’t
October 26th, 2012 at 8:27 PM
Its sad that there are about 4 or 5 teams that have a realistic chance to win it all.
I heard a sobering stat when they were talking about Stern’s retirement. 8 teams have won the championship since David Stern took over 30 years ago. 8 teams in 30 fucking years.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Lakers-5
Heat-2
Spurs-4?
There’s almost half of them right there.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Those are just the ones I remember, it’s possible those 3 teams have more than half of them.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:37 PM
Jesus Christ I just looked it up. Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and Spurs have a combined 23 of them. out of 30.
October 26th, 2012 at 8:47 PM
Pistons and Rockets got 2 each! Pistons should have 3 but Rasheed left Horry wide open… Why the hell are you assbags in this post?
October 26th, 2012 at 8:50 PM
Why the hell are you assbags in this post?
I went to where the “action” was. It’s dead tonight. Like railroad dead.
October 27th, 2012 at 8:29 AM
Jason,I hope you read these comments.You keep retweeting info from a site that obviously has an axe to grind with MLB.
You have a great website.I come to it everyday.You do a great job breaking news.I love when you get the scoops on ESPN anchors coming and going.
But your vendetta against MLB is beneath you and your site.Maybe you are still bitter from the 94 strike.
October 27th, 2012 at 11:24 AM
CPJ – No vendetta at all.
Maybe that guy has an ax to grind, who knows. Irrelevant, really.
As long as his numbers are accurate, isn’t that what matters? I still don’t get why everyone is so defensive about MLB ratings. They’re down. They have an aging fanbase. these are facts.
October 27th, 2012 at 11:53 AM
This year’s World Series has the lowest TV ratings of all time