The first two days of the Major League Baseball Division Series opened strong for rights-holder Turner Sports.
Day one saw Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay throw a no-hitter to open the series against the Cincinnati Reds. That game drew just over 4.2 million total viewers, not bad for an afternoon matchup. Ratings for that game were up 40% in the final hour, thanks to the no-no.
The primetime game, which was between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees, drew just over 6.9 million viewers. The Texas Rangers-Tampa Bay Rays game drew 2.24 million viewers.
Overall TBS drew an average of 4.6 million viewers during day one of the playoffs.
Day two was down slightly to the night before, but still up compared to day two last year in the key demos and total viewers. TBS averaged 4.2 million viewers for the three games it televised.
The highest rated was once again the Yankees-Twins, which drew 5.3 million viewers. That was followed by the Atlanta Braves-San Francisco Giants matchup, which drew 4.9 million viewers.
Rangers-Rays drew 2.4 million viewers.
More information, including how the games performed in the hometown markets, in the press releases after the jump.
Day Two of 2010 MLB Division Series on TBS Averages Strong 4.2 Million Viewers
Tripleheader Scores Audience Growth Over Same Day Last Year, Including Solid Demo Increases
Day two of TBS’s exclusive coverage of the 2010 MLB Division Series (LDS) averaged 4.2 million viewers yesterday, with more than 3.2 million households and a 2.8 U.S. household rating. The second day’s tripleheader was up in total audience when compared to day two of the 2009 LDS, with solid increases among key adult and male demos and double-digit growth among the 18-34 set. Over its first two days, TBS’s coverage of the LDS has averaged 4.4 million viewers and more than 3.3 million households, with a 2.9 U.S. household rating.
Day two of the LDS featured the Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays (Game #2), New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins (Game #2) and the Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants (Game #1).
Ratings Highlights of TBS’s exclusive coverage of LDS second-day match-ups:
· Day two of TBS’s coverage of the 2010 LDS scored solid growth among key adult and male demos compared to day two of the 2009 LDS, adults 18-34 up 10%, adults 18-49 up 3%, adults 25-54 up 1%, men 18-34 up 16%, men 18-49 up 3% and men 25-54 up 3%. In addition, the total audience for day two was up compared to last year.· TBS’s primetime coverage of the New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins earned a 3.5 U.S. household rating, and 5.3 million viewers. The Yankees/Twins game delivered a 19.4 rating in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market and a 13.5 rating in the New York market.
· The Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants game followed with a 3.1 U.S. household rating and 4.9 million viewers. The Braves/Giants game delivered a 17.5 rating in the San Francisco market and a 10.3 rating in the Atlanta market.
· During the afternoon, the Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays match-up earned a 1.8 U.S. household rating and delivered 2.4 million viewers. The Rangers/Rays game delivered a 6.5 rating in the Dallas Fort-Worth market and a 9.3 rating in the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg market.
The MLB Postseason continues on TBS tonight beginning at 5:30 p.m. (ET) with TBS MLB on Deck followed by a doubleheader featuring the Cincinnati Reds @ Philadelphia Phillies, Game #2 (6 p.m. ET) and Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants Game #2 (9:30 p.m. ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.
TBS Opens 2010 MLB Postseason with Historic No-Hitter,
Three Games Average 4.6 Million Total Viewers
Game #1 of Yankees @ Twins the Most Watched
Division Series Opening Game in Cable Television History
Phillies Pitcher Roy Halladay’s No-Hitter Grows more then 40% during Final Hour
TBS, exclusive television home to one of Major League Baseball’s most historic postseason performances last night, surged in audience growth throughout its exclusive opening day coverage of the League Division Series (LDS) to average a 3.0 U.S. Rating and 4.6 million total viewers for its tripleheader, according Nielsen’s Fast Nationals.
Game #1 of the NY Yankees @ Minnesota Twins (8:30 pm – 12:30 am ET) delivered a 4.3 U.S. household rating and6,914,000 Total Viewers, making it the most watched opening game of a Division Series in cable television history. During Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay’s no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds (5 – 8 pm ET), only the second no-hitter ever thrown in postseason history, total viewership grew 41% in its final hour (growing from 3,884,000 at 7 pm to 5,459,000 at 8 pm).
TBS’s exclusive coverage of LDS game one matchups delivered:
- The network’s primetime game of the New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins earned a 4.3 U.S. household rating, and drew 6,914,000 total viewers. The Yankees/Twins game delivered a 29.6 rating in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market and a 13.2 rating in the New York market.
- The Cincinnati Reds @ Philadelphia Phillies game delivered a 2.7 U.S. household rating and 4,209,000 total viewers. The Reds/Phillies game delivered a 18.0 rating in the Cincinnati market and a 21.9 rating in the Philadelphia market.
- Finally, the average household rating for the Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays received a 1.6 U.S. household rating and delivered 2,244,000 total viewers. The Rangers/Rays game delivered a 5.9 rating in the Dallas/Fort-Worth market and a 9.6 rating in the Tampa/St. Petersburg market.
The MLB Postseason continues on TBS on Thursday., October 7 beginning at 2 p.m. ET with TBS MLB on Deck followed by a tripleheader featuring the Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays, Game #2 (2:30 p.m. ET), New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins Game #2 (6 p.m. ET) and Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants Game #1 (9:30 p.m. ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.
Source: Based on Nielsen Media Research. Fast National actuals based upon Live + Same Day Data (10-06-10). Historic MLB League Divisional Series data (09-27-1993 to 10-06-2010). TBS Total Day Local Market DMA data, Arianna for 10-06-10).