Fox attributes low ratings to labor strife

World Series Ratings Yearly national ratings for the World Series, as compiled by Nielsen Media Research. Year Network Rating Share 2002 Fox  10.8*  17* 2001 Fox 15.7 25 2000 Fox 12.4 21 1999 NBC 16.0 26 1998 Fox 14.1 24 1997 NBC 16.8 29 1996 Fox 17.4 29 1995 ABC/NBC 19.5 33 1993 CBS 17.3 30 1992 CBS 20.2 34 1991 CBS 24.0 39 1990 CBS 20.8 36 1989 ABC 16.4 30 1988 NBC 23.9 39 1987 ABC 24.0 41 1986 NBC 28.6 46 1985 ABC 25.3 39 1984 NBC 22.9 40 1983 ABC 23.3 41 1982 NBC 28.0 49 1981 ABC 30.0 49 1980 NBC 32.8 56 1979 ABC 28.0 51 1978 NBC 32.7 56 1977 ABC 29.9 52 1976 NBC 27.7 48 1975 NBC 29.0 53 1974 NBC 25.6 47 1973 NBC 30.7 57 1972 NBC 27.5 58 1971 NBC 24.2 59 1970 NBC 19.4 53 1969 NBC 22.4 58 1968 NBC 22.8 57 * Preliminary rating for first five games The rating is the percentage of households with televisions watching a program and the share is the percentage watching a program among those with televisons in use.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Baseball's labor strife this year was partly responsible for the all-time lows being set by World Series ratings this year, according to the chairman of Fox Sports.

"Once again, baseball managed to turn off its loyal fans," David Hill said Saturday before Game 6 of the World Series. "I hoped it would pick up when we got to the postseason. It certainly hasn't been what I hoped it would be."

The all-California matchup between Anaheim and San Francisco also is responsible for the record low ratings, with the drop steepest in the Eastern time zone. Through five games, the Series averaged a 10.8 rating and 17 share, 25 percent below last year's five-game average of 14.4/24 for the Series between Arizona and the New York Yankees.

Last year's World Series, which went seven games, finished with a 15.7 rating. That was the third-lowest ever, ahead of only the 2000 Subway Series (12.4) between the Yankees and Mets, and the Yankees' four-game sweep of San Diego in 1998 (14.1).

The rating is the percentage of television households in the United States tuned to a program, and the share in the percentage watching among homes with sets on at the time.

"Our ratings had been terrific all year," Hill said. "They went in the bucket when all the bristling and sabre-rattling started."

Baseball players and owners bickered publicly for much of July and August, with players threatening to strike, which would have been the sport's ninth work stoppage since 1972. The sides struck a deal Aug. 30, just 2 1/2 hours before the scheduled start of the walkout.

News Corp., Fox's parent, took a $909 million charge against earnings in February, saying it had overpaid for its sports deals: $4.5 billion for the NFL, $2.4 billion for baseball and $1.9 billion for NASCAR.

Fox is in the second year of its baseball contract.

"Baseball's got to be concerned about its future," Hill said. "I would imagine they'll read the writing on the wall at the very highest levels and get their house in order."

Hill said the Angels and Giants had played "terrific games" and credited Bill Webb and Michael Weisman for creating what he called outstanding productions. Hill said baseball had given the network everything it asked for.

"The ratings have been a bit of a kick in the side of the head every morning," he said.

He didn't see the need for any new rules to quicken the paces of games.

"They just have to enforce what they have," he said.

 

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