NLCS Game 3 a ratings bonanza for TBS
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) delivers the pitch in the first inning during Game 3 of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015. Credit: Newsday / William Perlman
Game 3 of the NLCS Tuesday night drew an average national audience of 9.2 million, peaking at 10.7 million from 10 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
It was the most-viewed NLCS game TBS has carried, and without competition from football easily surpassed the figures for Games 1 and 2 between the Mets and Cubs.
An average of 25.1 percent of homes in the Chicago area were tuned in, as were 19.0 percent in New York, the highest such figure in New York for any baseball game in TBS' history.
The Cubs-Mets matchup was such a seeming ratings powerhouse that guessing viewership numbers has been a popular pastime among sports media executives and journalists.
But the key to high ratings is long series, and the Mets' 3-0 lead entering Game 4 did not bode well for any record-breaking final numbers.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
