Many People Watched the Mets and Giants Play Baseball Last Night
By Kyle Koster
Last night’s National League Wild Card Game contest between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets drew an overnight rating of 5.8, the highest for a Major League Baseball game on ESPN in 13 years. It also set a network record in the San Francisco (16.0) and New York (15.6) markets.
All the pieces fell into place for such viewership. Two marquee pitchers led two big-market teams on a night with virtually no sports or political competition. A thrilling pitchers’ duel helped eyeballs stay engaged.
Big picture, this doesn’t mean much for baseball. You’ll no doubt hear suggestions to the contrary today. Millions of people were treated to a fantastic baseball game on a weekday. But football is waiting in the wings to steal all of baseball’s momentum this weekend as the divisional rounds begin.