Bird Calling: Orioles Outdraw Nats In DC-Area Homes This Season

By John Ourand, Staff Writer

DC is the only TV market in the country where a team from another city gets better ratings than the hometown team. Orioles games on MASN drew a 0.67 rating and 16,000 homes in DC during the '09 season, a rating that is 12% higher and a household distribution that is 14% higher than the Nationals' 0.60 rating and 14,000 homes. Added together, an average of 30,000 DC homes watched two teams that combined for 201 losses, a household mark that is better than just two other teams: the A's (20,000) and the Royals (29,000). "The Nationals continue to grow strong roots and build a passionate fan base," said MASN VP/Communications Todd Webster, "but the Baltimore-Washington region is really one large mega-market, where support for both teams transcends traditional boundaries." The Orioles outdrew the Nationals by a wide margin in the Baltimore market, pulling a 2.90 rating and 32,000 homes. That is compared to a 0.4 rating and 4,000 homes in the market for the Nationals.