MLB Playoffs Digs In With Big Crowd on TBS

The three ballgames averaged 4.9 million viewers, a 16% increase from last year

By David Tanklefsky -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/8/2009 5:39:27 PM

The first day of 2009 Major League Baseball postseason action on TBS was the most-watched first day of Division Series coverage since 2005, Turner announced Thursday. The three ballgames Wednesday (Oct. 7) averaged 4.9 million viewers, a 16% increase from last year.  
 
The Yankees/Twins game was the most-watched and highest-rated of the three games, charting a 4.3 household rating and 6.6 million viewers, up 23% compared to last year’s Dodgers/Cubs matchup in the same time slot.
 
The West Coast game between the Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals delivered a 3.3 and 4.9 million viewers—also up compared to last year, while the afternoon game between Philadelphia and Colorado averaged a 2.0 and 2.8 million viewers, even with last year.  
 
In local markets, Minneapolis/St. Paul saw the highest numbers with a 21.6 rating.  t. Louis was next with a 20.0, followed by Philadelphia at 15.5.
 
The average of all three games saw growth across all key demos with the biggest jump coming in the A18-34 demo.  1.1 million from the demo tuned in Wednesday, a 32% jump from last year.  
 
TBS’ coverage of the Division Series continues Thursday with Game 2 of the Rockies/Phillies and Cardinals/Dodgers series as well as the Red Sox/Angels Game 1 matchup.