MLB Network averaged a 0.7 final rating and 873,000 viewers for its two LDS telecasts this season, down 13% and 26%, respectively, from a 0.8 rating and 1.2 million viewers last season, which was the net’s first year broadcasting postseason games. One difference for '13 was that MLB Net’s telecasts overlapped with other LDS games by an average of 91 minutes, compared 45 minutes in '12. Additionally, the '12 LDS games on MLB Net were played on a Sunday and Wednesday, while this year's games took place on a Friday and Monday. In exchanging a weekend game in the 12:00pm ET window for a weekday 1:00pm game, the net saw a decrease in HUT levels. MLB Net was further impacted by having the A's play in a matchup starting on a Monday at 10:00am in Oakland. Still, A’s-Tigers ALDS Game 3 on Oct. 7 drew 912,000 viewers, the net’s best audience of the season and third-best all-time, behind only last season’s two LDS telecasts. The net's Cardinals-Pirates NLDS Game 2 on Oct. 4 drew 832,000 viewers. MLB Net’s two LDS games last season, Tigers-A’s Game 2 and Cardinals-Nationals Game 3, drew 1.3 million and 1.1 million viewers, respectively.
STAYING STRONG: TBS is averaging a 2.4 final rating and 3.7 million viewers through Tuesday’s LDS coverage, keeping the net on pace for its highest-rated and most-viewed MLB postseason since ’10. Tuesday’s doubleheader -- A’s-Tigers Game 4 and Red Sox-Rays Game 4 -- averaged a 3.1 rating and 4.5 million viewers, up from a 2.3 rating and 3.4 million viewers for the comparable sixth day of LDS coverage last season, which featured two games on TBS and one game on TNT.
A PIRATE'S LIFE: TBS drew a 4.5 overnight rating for last night's Cardinals-Pirates NLDS Game 5. The comparable Wednesday last year included two games on TBS (3.4 overnight for doubleheader) and one game on TNT (2.0 overnight).
