Oh what might have been for TBS; Mets sweep over Cubs was worst-case scenario

Posted on by

The ratings for a 4-game sweep were big. Imagine if the games were more competitive and the Cubs-Mets series went six, even, seven games.

Here’s TBS trying to put a happy face on what could have been a much bigger ratings bonanza.

********

TBS’ exclusive presentation of the National League throughout the MLB Postseason – Wild Card, Division Series and League Championship Series – averaged 6.3 million total viewers and a 3.9 U.S. HH rating for 14 game telecasts to deliver the network’s most-viewed postseason coverage of all time, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals.  This year’s MLB Postseason on TBS is up 48% in total viewers and 44% in U.S. HH rating over the network’s postseason telecasts in 2014.  TBS’ MLB Postseason coverage also generated double-digit growth across all key demos including a58% increase in People 18-49.

The network’s exclusive coverage of the 2015 National League Championship Series – with the New York Mets sweeping the Chicago Cubs in four games – averaged 7.9 million total viewers and a 4.8 U.S. HH rating to garnerTBS’ most-viewed NLCS coverage of all time and the most-watched NLCS across all of television since 2010.  This year’s NLCS coverage is up 58% in total viewers and 50% in U.S. HH rating over the network’s NLCS telecasts in 2013, with increases of 55% in total viewers and 50% in U.S. HH rating vs. last year’s comparable ALCS airing on TBS.

Last night’s decisive NLCS Game 4 on TBS generated an average of 7.9 million total viewers and a 5.0 U.S. HH rating – peaking with an average of 8.6 million total viewers from 10:30-10:45 p.m. ET – to rank as the network’s most-viewed NLCS Game 4 on record.  The telecast won the night across all of cable television, based on metered market delivery.

This years’ NLCS Game 4 is up 99% in total viewers and 86% in U.S. HH rating over the network’s ALCS Game 4 telecast last year (Kansas City/Baltimore, ALCS Game 4 – four million total viewers; 2.7 U.S. HH rating). Locally, the telecast delivered an 18.9 HH rating in Chicago and an 18.8 HH rating in New York.

Turner’s TV Everywhere platforms also delivered record-setting numbers this postseason including more than 63 million minutes consumed, an increase of 60% over last year.  Live streaming across the platforms was also up 126% in unique visits during the postseason and 74% in video streams.