MLB’s Yankees-Red Sox game attracts most viewers on ESPN since 1998
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After winning the 6-2 Wildcard win against the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox dugout bursts onto to the field. On Oct. 5, 2021, the Boston Red Sox will host the New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston.
Boston Globe | Boston Globe | Getty Images
On Tuesday, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox opened the 2021 playoffs with the highest-rated baseball game. Disney’sESPN network since Mark McGwire’s 1998 record-setting 61th home run.
The American League Wild Card Game pitted rivals from the AL East against each other in an elimination setting. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees by 6-2 to advance to the AL Division Series where they will face the Tampa Bay Rays. The first game of the five-game best-of-five series begins Thursday.
The contest was watched by an average 7.7 millions viewers on ESPN platforms. network saidViewership peaked around 10.15 and 10:30 PM. ET.
This is the highest total since September 7, 1998 when McGwire’s St. Louis Cardinals met Sammy Sosa’s Chicago Cubs in an end-of-season match. Although neither team reached the playoffs the other teams were able to make it, everyone was watching the series because McGwire and Sosa both had the potential of surpassing Roger Maris’ 1961 single-season record for home runs, which stood at 61.
McGwire reached his 61st home run in that game before an ESPN audience of 10.6 millions. Sosa had 66 home runs and McGwire ended the season with 70.
ESPN claimed that Tuesday’s contest attracted a 19.8 household rating. This means that nearly 20% of the 2.3 million households in Boston tuned into Tuesday’s game. The Red Sox game was the most watched on ESPN among Boston viewers since 2009.
New York received an 112 household rating. Nielsen was used to determine ESPN’s viewership.
EDO, an advertising data company, estimated Tuesday’s Wild Card had 55% more search engagement than any other 2021 MLB regular-season game. In the few minutes following the commercial’s airing, viewers were 55% more likely than usual to go online and search for brands. Nissan VerizonEDO listed them among the most searched brands.
The Yankees-Red Sox match saw 67% more viewers than the AL Wild Card 2019 game between the Rays & Oakland Athletics. The contest attracted 4.6 million viewers.
Anthony Rizzo, 48, of New York Yankees, reacts to his strike against the Boston Red Sox 8th inning in American League Wild Card Game at Fenway Park October 05 2021 in Boston.
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The 2015 National League game between the Chicago Cubs & Pittsburgh Pirates is still the most watched Wild Card game across all network networks. 8.3 million people tuned into WarnerMedia’s TBS channel to see it.
The Tuesday night game comes in second place, closely followed by the 2015 AL Wild Card, on ESPN. This lured 7.6 millions viewers to the Yankees vs. the Astros. At 7.4 million, the 2016 NL Wild Card match pits the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants.
MLB may be another major hit as Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cardinals take on each other in Wednesday’s NL Wild Card match. This game can be seen on TBS. Information about viewership will likely be available on Thursday.
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