FS1 saw an overnight ratings decline for its opening ALDS telecasts on Thursday, hindered by the inclusion of a Canadian market for Rangers-Blue Jays and a rain delay for Astros-Royals in primetime. The Astros' 5-2 win over the Royals led the way with a 2.3 overnight, off 15% from a 2.7 last year for Cardinals-Dodgers NLDS Game 1. The rating for Astros-Royals excludes the 45-minute rain delay from 8:30-9:15pm ET. In the 45 minutes prior to the rain delay, Astros-Royals was averaging a 2.5 rating, flat with the same period for Cardinals-Dodgers last year. The 10:00-11:00pm hour for Astros-Royals averaged a 2.6 overnight, also flat with the same time for Cardinals-Dodgers. Astros-Royals drew a 26.6 local rating in K.C. and an 11.2 in Houston, FS1's highest-ever rating in either market. Meanwhile, the Rangers' 5-3 win over the Blue Jays in Thursday's early window (3:30-6:30pm) drew a 1.3 overnight for FS1. That number is down 19% from a 1.6 rating for last year's Giants-Nationals NLDS opener. Nielsen figures do not include Canadian markets. Rangers-Blue Jays peaked at a 1.9 overnight from 6:00-6:30pm. The game drew a 6.6 overnight in Dallas-Ft. Worth, FS1's highest-ever rating in that market (Josh Carpenter, Staff Writer).
HERE'S THE PITCH: On Long Island, Neil Best writes the "disparity in ratings appeal, historical mojo and general buzz" between the ALDS (Rangers-Blue Jays, Astros-Royals) on FS1 and MLB Network and NLDS (Cubs-Cardinals, Mets-Dodgers) on TBS is "among the greatest in sports media history." Fox does not have MLB rights in Canada, so having Torontonians "watch postseason games has about as much effect on ratings as having Martians do so" (NEWSDAY, 10/9). In Dallas, Barry Horn writes the "advantage this October goes to TBS" for broadcasting the NLDS. The AL "did Fox and MLB Network no such favor." Dallas-Ft. Worth is the No. 5 market, while Houston is No. 10. K.C. is No. 33, "just behind San Antonio." But Toronto is the "ultimate ratings killer." A home market in Canada "brings nothing to the U.S. ratings game" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/9).
EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN: USA TODAY's Ted Berg noted FS1's Pete Rose criticized Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson for leaving Thursday's game "over something as trifling as a possible head injury." Donaldson in the fourth inning suffered a "scary collision" with Rangers 2B Rougned Odor trying to break up a double play, taking a knee to the head. Rose was "reputed for his toughness and hustle" during his playing days, but MLB, its teams and players have "learned a heck of a lot about the terrifying potential long-term fallout from head injuries." Leaving the game to undergo a concussion test "might not have even been Donaldson’s choice, and he shouldn’t be blamed for it even if it was." Rose’s comments "were ridiculous, and, probably, the reason he’s getting paid to analyze baseball on TV" (USATODAY.com, 10/8).
HEY, JOE: Fox' Joe Buck this week said he would welcome calling a Cubs World Series game, and in St. Louis, Dan Caesar notes some Cardinals fans "took that as blasphemy from the St. Louisan and son of legendary Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck." Caesar: "So what? He hasn’t been on Cardinals local broadcasts since 2007." Buck said, "To anybody who has an issue with somebody saying that, I would say, ‘If you were given tickets to go, would you go? If it was on TV, would you stop and watch it?’ I think the answer’s probably yes, because of the significance of it.” Caesar notes Buck is "in a tough spot in St. Louis, where some expect him to follow step by step the path his revered father walked" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/9).
CITI SCAPE: NEWSDAY's Best notes SNY's plan for the Mets-Dodgers NLDS is to have Keith Hernandez "as part of the studio team" at its N.Y. HQ for road games and "on-site at a set outside Citi Field for home games." Gary Cohen "will join the on-site team for home games," while play-by-play man Ron Darling "will work the games themselves as a member of Turner's No. 1 baseball booth and will contribute to SNY when logistics permit" (NEWSDAY, 10/9).
CARD TRICKS: This week's MLB Wild Card games were the most-viewed since the format originated in '12. The Wild Cards on ESPN and TBS, featuring Astros-Yankees and Cubs-Pirates, averaged for 7.9 million viewers, up 48% over 5.4 million for last year's Royals-A's (TBS) and Giants-Pirates (ESPN) matchups. Both games this week were the most-watched in the short history of the format. Tuesday's Astros-Yankees game also was the most-watched WC ever in Canada, up 124% from Royals-A's in '14 (MLB). Wednesday night's Cubs-Pirates game drew 8.3 million viewers on TBS, the most-viewed WC in the format's history. Cubs-Pirates was also the largest audience for an MLB game on cable since Cardinals-Phillies NLDS Game 5 in '11 (Turner).
