TBS’ exclusive coverage of the 2013 MLB Wild Card presented by Budweiser – Cincinnati at Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and Tampa Bay at Cleveland on Wednesday, Oct. 2 – averaged 4.7 million total viewers, an increase of 2% compared with an average of 4.6 million total viewers for the corresponding games in 2012. Based on Nielsen Fast Nationals, this year’s 3.0 U.S. HH rating is even with last year.
The MLB Wild Card telecasts propelled TBS to rank first among all cable networks in primetime both nights. Each of the game telecasts peaked with a 3.5 U.S. HH rating, with the Reds/Pirates reaching the mark from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET and the Rays/Indians from 10-10:15 p.m.
Both telecasts also generated impressive local ratings in each of the team markets:
- Pittsburgh delivered a 33.7 DMA HH rating, the highest-rated MLB game ever on record in the market;
- Cleveland generated a 25.2 HH rating, the highest rating for an MLB game in the market since Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS against Boston;
- Cincinnati ranked second overall among the 56 metered markets for the Reds/Pirates telecast with a 16.6 HH rating;
- Tampa Bay posted a 15.5 HH rating, the highest rating locally since Game 3 of the 2011 MLB Division Series against Texas.
TBS’ extensive coverage of the 2013 MLB Postseason continues with the start of the MLB Division Series today, Thursday, Oct. 3, with a doubleheader featuring the St. Louis Cardinals hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates (Game 1) at 5 p.m. and the Los Angeles Dodgers visiting the Atlanta Braves (Game 1) at 8:30 p.m. TBS’ coverage will begin at 4 p.m. with the MLB Postseason Pre-Game on TBS presented by Jeep. Following the night’s doubleheader, the studio team will wrap up the action on The Postseason Show on TBS presented by Johnnie Walker.
Source: Fast Nationals and Metered Market Ratings based on Nielsen Live + Same Day data stream for the date of 10/01/2013 – 10/02/2013 vs. 10/05/2013 Wild Card Games on TBS (St. Louis vs. Atlanta / Baltimore vs. Texas). Cable Prime comparison based upon metered market ratings data for 10/01/2013 and 10/02/2013 for all ad-supported networks.
Source: tvbythenumbers.com, 10/3/13
