2009 World Series averages 11.7 rating, 19.4 million viewers

The Yankees may be one of the most hated teams in America, but they certainly attract an audience.

The 6-game Yankees/Phillies World Series averaged an 11.7/19 rating and 19.4 million viewers on FOX, up 39% in ratings and 43% in viewership from Phillies/Rays last year (8.4/14, 13.6 mil), up 10% and 14%, respectively, from Red Sox/Rockies in '07 (10.6/18, 17.1 mil), and the highest-rated, most-viewed World Series since Red Sox/Cardinals in '04 (15.8/26, 25.4 mil).

Yankees/Phillies stands as the 4th most-viewed World Series of the decade, behind only Red Sox/Cardinals in '04 (25.4 mil), Diamondbacks/Yankees in '01 (24.5 mil) and Marlins/Yankees in '03 (20.1 mil).

Wednesday night's Phillies/Yankees Game 6 averaged a 13.4/22 rating and 22.3 million viewers on FOX, down 4% in ratings and viewership from Marlins/Yankees Game 6 in '03 (13.9/25, 23.2 mil) -- the most recent Game 6 of the World Series.

Game 6 ranks as the highest rated, most-viewed clinching game of the World Series since Red Sox/Cardinals Game 4 in '04 (18.2/28, 28.8 mil).

To put the numbers in perspective, the 2009 World Series topped the Lakers/Magic NBA Finals (8.4/15, 14.3 mil) -- a return to the status quo after Celtics/Lakers topped Phillies/Rays in 2008. Additionally, the World Series outdrew the NCAA Men's Final Four (9.1, 14.9 mil) and the Bowl Championship Series (10.2, 17.4 mil).

The series averaged a 6.2 rating in the adults 18-49 demo (up 41% from last year), and a 5.4 among adults 18-34 (up 46%). Comparably, the NBA Finals averaged a 5.8 among adults 18-49 and a 5.7 among adults 18-34, while the Final Four averaged a 5.1 among adults 18-49.

Overall, the World Series accounts for four of the six most-viewed non-NFL sporting events of 2009, with Games 4 and 6 ranking second and third, respectively.

The 2009 World Series stands as the 5th-lowest rated and 7th least-viewed since at least '68. The past five World Series rank as the five lowest rated in history.

From 1973-1999, no World Series averaged fewer than 20 million viewers (viewership data for series prior to '73 was unavailable). From 2000-2009, 7 of the 10 World Series have averaged fewer than 20 million -- the lone exceptions coming in '01, '03 and '04.

Additionally, the series is the lowest rated and second-least viewed World Series since at least '76 to involve the New York Yankees. Only the 2000 Yankees/Mets series averaged fewer viewers (18.1 million).

Ratings/viewership for every World Series since 1995

Year	# of gms	Series	Net	Rating	Viewers
2009	6	Yankees 4, Phillies 2	FOX	11.7/19	19.4 mil
2008	5	Phillies 4, Rays 1	FOX	8.4/14	13.6 mil
2007	4	Red Sox 4, Rockies 0	FOX	10.6/18	17.1 mil
2006	6	Cardinals 4, Tigers 1	FOX	10.1/17	15.8 mil
2005	4	White Sox 4, Astros 0	FOX	11.1/19	17.2 mil
2004	4	Red Sox 4, Cardinals 0	FOX	15.8/26	25.4 mil
2003	6	Marlins 4, Yankees 2	FOX	12.8/22	20.1 mil
2002	7	Angels 4, Giants 2	FOX	11.9/20	19.3 mil
2001	7	D'Backs 4, Yankees 3	FOX	15.7/26	24.5 mil
2000	5	Yankees 4, Mets 1	FOX	12.4/21	18.1 mil
1999	4	Yankees 4, Braves 0	NBC	16.0/26	23.7 mil
1998	4	Yankees 4, Padres 0	FOX	14.1/24	20.3 mil
1997	7	Marlins 4, Indians 3	NBC	16.7/29	24.8 mil
1996	6	Yankees 4, Braves 2	FOX	17.4/29	25.2 mil
1995	6	Braves 4, Indians 2	NBC, ABC	19.5/33	29.0 mil

Game-by-game ratings/viewership for the 2009 World Series

Date	Game	Net	Rating	Viewers	A18-49
Wed., 10/28/09	Phillies/Yankees G1	FOX	11.9/19	19.5 mil	6.3/17
Thu., 10/29/09	Phillies/Yankees G2	FOX	11.7/19	18.9 mil	5.8/16
Sat., 10/31/09	Yankees/Phillies G3	FOX	9.1/18	15.4 mil	4.7/--
Sun., 11/1/09	Yankees/Phillies G4	FOX	13.5/22	22.8 mil	7.8/20
Mon., 11/2/09	Yankees/Phillies G5	FOX	10.6/16	17.1 mil	5.3/14
Wed., 11/4/09	Phillies/Yankees G6	FOX	13.4/22	22.3 mil	7.4/20
Average			11.7/19	19.4 mil	6.2/--

Source: TV By the Numbers