With audience expectations for tonight’s Cubs-Indians World Series Game 7 being sky high, SBD reached out to several sports media experts for predictions on viewership. For context, the best World Series Game 7 audience over the last 20 years is 39.1 million viewers for D-backs-Yankees in '01. Angels-Giants Game 7 in '02 drew 30.8 million viewers. More recently, Giants-Royals in '14 drew 23.5 million viewers. Fox Sports Exec VP/Research, League Operations & Strategy Mike Mulvihill earlier this week tweeted that World Series Game 7s over the last 20 years typically saw viewership levels 78% higher than averages for Games 1-6. With the Series at around 19.9 million viewers right now, that would be around 35.5 million viewers for tonight.
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WORLD SERIES GAME 7 AUDIENCE TREND ON FOX
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YEAR
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NIGHT
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MATCHUP
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RATING
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VIEWERS (000)
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'14
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Wed.
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Giants-Royals
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13.7
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23,517
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'11
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Fri.
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Cardinals-Rangers
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14.7
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25,403
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'02
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Sun.
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Angels-Giants
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17.9
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30,814
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'01
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Sun.
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D-backs-Yankees
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23.5
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39,084
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Expert opinion for tonight is all over the map. ESPN Senior VP/Global Research & Analytics Artie Bulgrin says the game will draw 40 million viewers, but Sports Media Advisors Founder Doug Perlman believes the audience will “approach, but fall short” of the '01 finale and “land somewhere around 37 million viewers.” Perlman: "The competitive dynamic of the game will impact the number." Blue Sky Media Founder Leslie Gittess sees tonight breaking World Series viewership records, and that does not count millennials following on social media. Gittess added, "People want to focus on something positive and energetic while taking a break from the political arena.” Consultant Chris Bevilacqua said, "With the historical significance of game, no NFL or other significant counter programming, relative calm before the election storm, active social media platforms and a competitive game, I would expect to see viewership in range of 35-40 million viewers."
Consultant Ed Desser believes that despite the Cubs' history and a comeback during this series adding to interest levels, a “crowded, ultra-competitive programming environment” will land the audience beneath bigger Game 7 audiences. Houlihan Lokey Managing Dir & Head of Sports Chris Russo predicted 32 million viewers for the game, while Wharton School of Business professor Ken Shropshire predicts 29.0 million viewers -- “assuming no presidential debates break out.” SportsDesk Media co-Founder & Managing Partner Eric Fernandez said with two storied franchises playing, tonight will mark the best World Series figure "over the past 20 years."
