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Monday, October 10, 2022

TV Ratings: MLB Phillies Surge 25% On TV, 49% Streaming


As the Phillies return to the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, it’s no surprise that viewership for the team’s games on NBC Sports Philadelphia reached its highest level in a decade.

The Philly Business Journal reports the regional sports network said it experienced a 25% increase in average viewership from last year, up to 135,000 households and 211,000 viewers. Pre and post-game coverage saw 50% spikes to 25,000 and 61,000 households, respectively. On the streaming side, digital impressions also increased by 49%

The highest-viewed game was the team’s opener on April 8 against the Oakland Athletics that aired on NBC10, which drew 225,000 households. The regional sports network declined to provide ratings information, saying it now judges performance by viewership.

NBCSP carried 142 of the team's 162 games, down from past seasons as Apple TV+ and Peacock aired more games this year along with the normal slate of nationally televised games on ESPN and Fox.

“NBC Sports Philadelphia is enjoying strong Phillies deliveries,” NBC Sports Philadelphia President Brian Monihan said in a statement. “We’re happy that our partners are having such success on the field and excited for the fans to have Phillies playoff baseball. We will continue to be there before and after every playoff game to satisfy the passionate Philadelphia viewers.”

The Phillies last made the playoffs in 2011. Ratings have declined in the ensuing years as the team suffered through 11 seasons without a winning record until going 87-75 this season to secure a Wild Card berth in the National League. The team won its best-of-three Wild Card series against the Cardinals over the weekend in St. Louis. Those games were carried on ESPN and ABC.

The Cardinals had a 31% jump in viewership this season on Bally Sports Midwest.

It should be noted that ratings and advertising at NBC Sports Philadelphia directly affects the Phillies, which acquired a 25% stake in the network and a portion of advertising revenue via its 25-year, $2.5 billion television broadcast agreement that began in 2016. NBC Sports Philadelphia is majority-owned by Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp.

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