MLB Postseason Viewership Down 8% Heading Into High-Interest World Series Matchup

MLB heads into the World Series having averaged 4.24 million viewers for 28 playoff telecasts across FS1, TBS, MLB Network and ESPN, down 8% compared to the same period last season, when there were 31 games (including one on Fox), but up 9% from 3.9 million viewers in ’14, when there were 25 games (also one on Fox). The gap between this year and last will likely close quickly as the Cubs are playing in their first World Series since ’45. For the six-game Cubs-Dodgers NLCS this year, FS1 averaged 6.96 million viewers, down 12% from the Mets’ sweep of the Cubs in the NLCS last year on TBS (7.89 million viewers). But Cubs-Dodgers was up 56% from 4.46 million viewers for the five-game Giants-Cardinals NLCS on Fox and FS1 in ’14. For its 13 postseason games this season, FS1 averaged 5.13 million viewers, up big from 3.0 million viewers last season, and up from 3.57 million viewers in ’14. Meanwhile, TBS this postseason got hit hard by two LDS sweeps and then a five-game ALCS that featured a Toronto market that did count toward its ratings. TBS averaged 3.34 million viewers for the Indians’ five-game win over the Blue Jays in the ALCS, likely marking the least-viewed LCS on record. That figure was down 13% from 3.85 million viewers for the six-game Royals-Blue Jays ALCS in ’15 on FS1 and Fox. Only two of TBS’ five telecasts during the ALCS were in primetime, and the net won the night among all cable nets on one of those nights (Game 1). For TBS’ 12 postseason telecasts, the net averaged 3.18 million viewers, down sharply from last year, when it averaged 6.35 million viewers (14 games), and down from 4.29 million viewers in ’14 (11 games).

LOOKING BACK: The World series has not averaged more than 20 million viewers since Red Sox-Cardinals drew 25.39 million viewers over four games in '04, when the Red Sox secured their first title since 1918. Below is a look at World Series viewership over the last decade.