Jul 9, 2019; Cleveland, OH, USA; American League pitcher Shane Bieber (57) of the Cleveland Indians is awarded MVP in the 2019 MLB All Star Game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game on Fox drew a 6.2 overnight rating, a record low overnight. Last year’s game drew a 6.5 overnight, same as 2017, and the previous record low came in 2016, when the game in San Diego drew a 6.2 overnight.

Fox is just happy they won the night.

Overnights for the All-Star Game have cratered over the last decade. Paulsen’s incredibly useful library of data from the last 20 years over at Sports Media Watch reveals that overnights for the MLB ASG have been steadily declining over the last 20 years, and over the last ten, overnights have been sheared by more than 40%, from an 11.0 back in 2008 to last night’s 6.2.

If there’s a bright side for MLB, it’s that no All-Star Games are peaking in this day and age. The NBA All-Star Game drew a record low overnight back in February, and Pro Bowl viewership has been sinking for years, even with ESPN simulcasting the game on three English-language networks.

As for Monday’s thrilling Home Run Derby, it drew a 4.5 overnight, slightly up from last year, but down nearly 20% from 2017. At least MLB doesn’t need to deal with a record-low for both of its tentpole July events, right?

About Joe Lucia

I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.