Game 3 of the Texas-San Francisco World Series earned the second-lowest U.S. television rating for a World Series game, according to figures released Sunday.
The Rangers’ 4-2 win over the Giants on Saturday night on Fox drew a 6.7 rating and 13 share, beating only the 6.1 for Game 3 of the 2008 Phillies-Rays series. That game was delayed 91 minutes because of rain and didn’t start until after 10 p.m. on the East Coast.
The rating was down 26% from the 9.1 for Game 3 of last season’s Yankees-Phillies World Series.
This year’s series is averaging an 8.1 through three games, up 5% from the record low of the 2008 World Series.
Viewing for Sunday’s game rebounded slightly, at a reported 10.4 rating, though still behind NBC’s broadcast of the NFL’s night game between Pittsburgh and New Orleans at 11.8.
Canadian ratings weren’t immediately available.
Saturday’s game began at 7 p.m. ET, the earliest World Series start since 1987. Baseball and network officials had for years resisted earlier start times despite concerns about losing younger viewers, saying the later the game, the higher the rating–and the greater the revenue.
To help offset potential revenue losses from the earlier Game 3 start, sponsor Chevrolet committed to increased advertising.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig wouldn’t assess the ratings.
“Let me study things,” he said before Game 4.
The rating is the percentage watching a program among homes with TVs. The share is the percentage tuned into the broadcast among those households with TVs on at the time.
