World Series Ratings Strikeout: Giants vs. Royals Is Worst Ever Opener in Metered Markets

Tuesday’s lame performance by the Royals yielded ratings unfit for a king.

The visiting San Francisco Giants routed the Kansas City Royals last night on Fox, 7-1, delivering the lowest-rated World Series opening game ever per the 56 metered markets, with an 8.0 rating/13 share. It was not, however, the lowest-rated World Series game ever. That undesirable distinction goes to 2008’s Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies Game 3, which managed just a 7.0.

For a better comparison, last year’s first game, between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox, received a 9.4/16.

Also read: Fox Sports Braces for World Series Ratings Dip But Thinks Royals Are Baseball’s ‘Best Thing … in 10 Years’

The small market of Kansas City surely didn’t help matters on Tuesday night, but the game‘s non-competitive nature is most to blame. The visiting Giants scored three runs in the top of the first inning, thanks in large part to a two-run homer from Hunter Pence (pictured above). The Royals’ lone run came in the 7th inning.

Initial tune-in (8 p.m. to 8:30) numbers were close to Game 1 in 2012 — the last time San Francisco played in the World Series — pulling a 7.3 in the measured households. Game 1 in 2012 had a slightly higher 7.5 metered market rating.

But the contest last night peaked early, as the Royals appeared to have a third-inning rally going around 9 to 9:30. The most competitive World Series games tends to hit a mark at or after 11 p.m.

Also read: Lorde’s ‘Hunger Games’ Soundtrack Listing, Artwork Revealed Amid San Francisco Radio Ban

Fox is touting an overall primetime projected average of 8.4/14, which would be the network’s top Tuesday night since February 2012.

Here are the local market numbers for the two teams in the fall classic:
San Francisco: 29.3/50
Kansas City: 48.2/68

Timezone adjust fast national ratings numbers are expected around 4 p.m. ET.