THE SPORTS BUSINESS DAILY surveyed broadcast and cable outlets that carry MLB telecasts, on their ratings through the first half of the '97 season compared to '96. Of the 32 broadcast outlets that provided ratings, 18 have seen a drop in MLB viewership from '96; 13 have seen an increase; with one flat. All ratings are through July 9 of both '96 & '97 except where noted (^). Complete cable ratings were unavailable. Figures for the Expos were also not available.
| TEAM | STATION | '97 | '96 | | TEAM | STATION | '97 | '96 |
| ANA^ | KCAL | 3 | 3.3 | ATL^ | WTBS | 11.6 | 12 |
|
| FSW | 2.5 | n/a | CHC | WGN | 5.3 | 5.7 |
| BAL | WNUV | 10 | 8.4 | CIN^ | WKRC | 7.7 | 5.6 |
|
| WJZ | 14.6 | 13.6 | | WSTR | 5.5 | 5.6 |
| BOS | WABU | 5.8 | 5 | COL | KWGN | 9.1 | 9.8 |
|
| NESN | 2.6 | 2 | | FOX RM | 4.5 | n/a |
| CWS | WGN | 3.9 | 4.2 | FLA | WBFS | 6.1 | 3.8 |
|
| SC-CH | 1.1 | 1.1 | HOU | KTXH | 4.4 | 5.3 |
| CLE | WUAB | 14.3 | 17.7 | | FOX STWS | T 2.3 | 2.7 |
| DET | WKBD | 5 | 4.1 | LA | KTLA | 5 | 5.1 |
| KC^ | KCWB | 3.8 | 5.2 | NYM | WWOR | 3.6 | 3.2 |
|
| KMBC | 6.1 | 5.2 | | SC-NY | 1.6 | 1.3 |
|
| FOX RM | 0.5 | n/a | PHI | WPHL | 3 | 5.1 |
| MIL | WVTV | 5 | 6 | | PRISM | 1.2 | 2.3 |
| MINN | WCCO | 8.6 | 9.1 | | SC-PH | 1.7 | 3.4 |
| NYY | WPIX | 6.6 | 5.6 | PIT^ | WPGH | 5.4 | 7.5 |
|
| MSG | 2.6 | 2.5 | | WPTT | 5.6 | 7.5 |
| OAK | KRON | 3.5 | 5.1 | | FOX PITT | 5.5 | 4.4 |
| SEA | KIRO | 15 | 12.4 | SD^ | KUSI | 6 | 7.6 |
|
| FOX NW | 12.2 | 9 | | CH4PAD | 6.6 | n/a |
| TEX^ | KXTX | 6.5 | 6.5 | SF | KTVU | 5.7 | 4.9 |
|
| KXAS | 9.3 | 8.9 | STL | KPLR | 11.7 | 9.7 |
|
| FOX STW | ST 2.6 | n/a | | FOX MDWS | T 4.4 | 2.3 |
| TOR^ | CBC | 503K | 514K | | | | |
NOTES (^): Angels cable ratings on Fox Sports West are through July 19; KMSO handled Royals broadcasts in '96; In Texas, LIN-TV produces Rangers games for both KXTX and KXAS. CBC numbers courtesy of the Toronto Globe & Mail. CBC measures ratings in aggregate total; Ratings for WTBS' Braves telecasts are local numbers; SportsChannel OH holds rights for Reds telecasts. They produce select over-the-air games and WRKC/WSTR are the two Cincinnati carriers. WKRC is in its first year of Reds telecasts; In '96, the Pirates over-the-air games were on WPXI; The Padres' Channel 4 ratings are for 55 of 66 telecasts. In '96, the Padres' over-the-air telecasts ran on KFMB.
