TBS Draws Good Numbers for NLCS Game 1

Here is the latest press release from Turner Sports regarding TBS’ viewership for last night’s NLCS Game 1 between the Dodgers and Phillies.

TBS Attracts Nearly 7 Million Viewers for Game #1 of National League Championship Series

MLB Postseason Continues to Deliver for TBS

Coming off a strong League Division Series (LDS) that led to record-breaking ratings for TBS, the network began its exclusive coverage of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) with nearly 7 millions viewers for Game #1 between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers. Game #1 scored a 4.3 U.S. household rating, up 5% over TBS’s coverage of Game #1 of the 2008 ALCS (Boston Red Sox/Tampa Bay Rays). In addition, households were up 5% (4,947,000 vs. 4,717,000) and total viewers increased 2% (6,855,000 vs. 6,689,000) over the comparable coverage from last year.

Through Game #1 of the NLCS, the 2009 MLB Postseason on TBS has witnessed double-digits percent increases in U.S. household ratings (+10%; 3.2 vs. 2.9), total viewers (+11%; 4,945,000 vs. 4,440,000) and households (+11%; 3,690,000 vs. 3,314,000). In addition, TBS’s MLB Postseason coverage continues to see growth in all key demos, including:

· A18-34: +12%; 996,000 this year vs. 893,000 in 2008

· A18-49: +7%; 2,137,000 vs. 1,997,000

· A25-54: +5%; 2,213,000 vs. 2,099,000

· M18-34: +12%; 673,000 vs. 603,000

· M18-49: +7%; 1,463,000 vs. 1,369,000

· M25-54: +4%; 1,516,000 vs. 1,455,000

TBS’s coverage of the Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers game delivered a 28.8 rating in the Philadelphia market and a
n 11.3 rating in the Los Angeles market.

The MLB Postseason on TBS continues today (Oct. 16) beginning at 3:30 p.m. (ET) with TBS MLB on Deck, followed by Game #2 of Phillies/Dodgers at 4 p.m. (ET). Inside MLB will conclude TBS’s coverage, following the completion of the game.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Live + Same Day data. TBS MLB Post-Season dates, through Day 1 of the League Championship Series, 2009: 10-05-09 – 10-15-09 and 2008: 10-01-08 – 10-10-08 (14 vs. 16 games).

I’ll be back later tonight with more. Off to dinner.