Fox earned a 12.3/23 final rating for Game One of the
World Series, and a 12.6/20 for Game Two. The 12.5/22
average through two games is down 4% from last year's
Indians-Marlins on NBC, which averaged a 13.0/23. The
lowest Series average ever is the four-game '89 A's-Giants
earthquake Series, with a 16.4/29. The 12.6/20 for Game Two
was the lowest-rated Game Two in history (THE DAILY). DAILY
VARIETY's Tom Bierbaum writes this year's World Series is on
"course to be the lowest-rated ever" (DAILY VARIETY, 10/20).
THE COMEBACK KIDS? Fox Sports Senior VP/Media Relations
Vince Wladika: "We were in a worse position two years ago
when the Yankees lost the first two games at home. At least
the Padres are at home after losing the first two at Yankee
Stadium" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/20). Pilson Communications
President Neal Pilson: "Fox has to be a little concerned
this morning. If I'm Fox, I hope San Diego wins the next
two games. Then (Fox officials) can sit back and enjoy
themselves" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/20). Despite the lower-
than-expected ratings, Fox "won the prime-time battle both
nights," beating NBC on Saturday and CBS on Sunday (David
Barron, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/20).
BOMBERS NOT BOMBING IN NY: Game One on Saturday earned
a 27.7 rating (1.8 million households) in the N.Y.-area -- a
2% increase over the '96 Yankees-Braves Series. Sunday's
Game Two earned a 29.2 (1.9 million households) -- up 5%
from Game Two in '96 (Don Kaplan, N.Y. POST, 10/20).
