The Royals’ stirring playoff run has rendered moot any concern about Kansas City’s market size.
Game 3 of the Orioles/Royals American League Championship Series drew a 4.0 overnight rating on TBS Tuesday, up 8% from Cardinals/Dodgers Game 3 last year (3.7) and down 18% from Yankees/Tigers opposite a presidential debate in 2012 (4.9). The 4.0 matches Friday’s Game 1 as the second-highest of the playoffs on any network.
Two of the three ALCS games have had increases in overnights compared to last year’s NLCS, which featured the nation’s #2 television market (Los Angeles). Keep in mind the only game to have a decline in overnights — Game 1 — ended up with an increase in the final ratings.
Over on Fox Sports 1, Game 3 of the Cardinals/Giants series drew a 2.1 overnight — down 49% from Red Sox/Tigers Game 3 on FOX last year (4.1) and down 32% from Giants/Cardinals Game 3 on FOX in 2012, a game that was delayed three hours due to rain (3.1), reports Sports Media Watch.