After a stellar start to the MLB Postseason which saw record viewership for both the American League and National League Wild Card games, the opening games for the League Division Series had mixed results.
The American League Division Series on FS1 got off to a slow start from last year’s games while the National League Division Series gave TBS its best beginning to the LDS in the network’s history.
With the loss of the New York Yankees plus having Toronto in the MLB Postseason for the first time since 1993, FS1 saw lower ratings from a year ago. Game 1 of Texas-Toronto drew 1.8 million viewers, down significantly from the 4 million for Detroit-Baltimore on TBS. The 1.8 million is the least-watched MLB Postseason game excluding last year’s MLB Network’s telecasts since 2012 when Cincinnati-San Francisco on TNT drew 1.5 million.
And the opening game of the Houston Astros-Kansas City Royals series received a 2.0 rating which was down from the 2.7 number for Royals-Angels in 2014. In addition, Houston-KC saw an average of 3.3 million viewers down 900,000 from the 4.2 million in 2014.
Kansas City saw a 26.6 rating while Houston received an 11.2 number which are records for FS1. Dallas drew a 6.6 rating for the early game, again a local high for FS1.
As for the National League Division Series which has the country’s three biggest markets, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago plus the nationally-known St. Louis Cardinals, TBS got off to a flying start. The primetime coverage gave TBS the win across cable television on Friday.
Cubs-Cards drew 5.38 million viewers with a 3.3 rating which is the most-watched NLDS Game 1 since 2008. The nightcap featuring the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers gave TBS an average viewership of 4.7 million with a 3.0 rating.
Locally, St. Louis received a 27.8 rating which is a record for a LDS Game 1 in the market. Chicago had a 16.8 rating.
New York saw a 10.1 rating, the highest number for a Mets game since 2012 while Los Angeles garnered an 8.1.
We’ll see if the trends continue for both the American and National League as the Division Series continues.
