The Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers took the second and third spots for cheering on their home teams—from the comfort of their couches. During the regular season 8.9 percent and 7.9 percent of households tuned in, respectively, and they continued to see strong viewership numbers during the playoffs as well. During the playoffs, the Cardinals garnered the highest household rating of any market (26.2%), while the Brewers held onto the third spot.

“The Phillies’ high-profile acquisition of pitching ace Cliff Lee last winter built incredible team buzz and the fans definitely tuned in,” said Stephen Master, VP of Sports, Nielsen.

Just as they did on the field, some teams did better on television this year vs. last year. During the regular season, the Milwaukee Brewers jumped to the third spot after a 63 percent yearly increase in local ratings. The Cleveland Indians saw a whopping 105 percent increase in their local market rating compared to last year, bringing them to the eighth spot in the overall rankings.

In terms of sheer volume of households tuning in, however, no one can beat the New York Yankees. The Yankees had roughly 323,000 local New York City households tune in to their 2011 regular season games and an astounding 918,000 households tune in to their playoff games.

With the World Series starting tonight, Rangers fans will face steep competition against the enthusiastic Cardinals fans. In this year’s playoff games, roughly 26 percent of St. Louis households tuned into the games, while in Dallas, only about 17 percent of households tuned into the locally televised Rangers games.

“Although the AL Rangers are favored to win their first World Series in franchise history, fan loyalty has definitely been stronger in the NL this season. Combining the local ratings for the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Milwaukee rank as the top three markets for tuning in to watch and support their local team.”

“The All-Star roster went through some significant changes, losing major stars including Derek Jeter. On the heels of his 3,000th career hit, Jeter is a powerhouse brand, with an N-Score of 165, just shy of the combined scores for the All-Star starters,” said Stephen Master, VP Nielsen Sports. “With Jeter out of the equation, the playing field has slightly leveled out.”

The N-Score evaluates name, image awareness, appeal and attributes such as sincerity, approachability, experience and influence to determine a player’s endorsement potential.

Methodology
Using the combined research expertise of Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research, N-Score is an in-depth look at a sports figure’s overall endorsement potential, factoring in the attributes and demographic measures that align brands with endorsers. E-Poll maintains a national online panel of 250,000 people age 13 and up. Each individual N-Score National survey is administered to 1,100 people within that panel via the Internet. The sample is representative of the general population based on gender, income, age, and education.

With advertisers spending more than a billion dollars on endorsements each year, a player’s ability to deliver in an ad can be almost as important as his skill at delivering on the field.

“Derek Jeter is on a tremendous run, with each new endorsement raising his profile with consumers. With a score more than three times his nearest competitor, it’s no wonder he’s been the face for Nike, Gatorade, Fleet Bank, Ford, VISA and more,” said Stephen Master, VP, Nielsen Sports. “While many of the players may not have national visibility, locally their brands resonate at a very strong level, with some having local N-Scores almost 10 times that of their national one.”

In the N-Score’s Top 10 Most Marketable Players in Baseball ranking, the Yankees actually snatched three of the top ten spots nationally, with Alex Rodriguez ranking ninth. In fact, the Yankees had as many representatives on the list as the entire National League.

For all of baseball, including current and former players, commentators and owners, a few all-time greats lead the pack. Yogi Berra holds the top spot, with an N-Score of 257, followed by Willie Mays (236) and Cal Ripken, Jr. (228). One noteworthy surprise? Joe Torre beat out his former players—Jeter and Rodriguez—with a score of 207, making him baseball’s fourth most marketable personality.

Methodology
Using the combined research expertise of Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research, N-Score is an in-depth look at a sports figure’s overall endorsement potential, factoring in the attributes and demographic measures that align brands with endorsers. N-Score Local provides this information for athletes within their team’s local market as well as nationwide. Players are defined as Hall of Fame (receiving an N-Score of 200+), Superstar (100 to 199), MVP (50 to 99), All Star (30 to 49) and Starter (less than 30).

Stephen Master, Vice President, Nielsen Sports

SUMMARY: 2009 was a record-breaking year for U.S. sports television, featuring the most-viewed Super Bowl ever, the most-viewed Stanley Cup in seven years, and the most-viewed World Series in five years. What trends ignited this growth and what’s in store for 2010?

Unlike many sectors, U.S. sports television had a banner year in 2009. Viewership of major events hit record levels: Super Bowl XLIII was the most-viewed in history; the Stanley Cup was the most-viewed in seven years, followed by the World Series (most in five years).

Driving this growth were technology advances such as satellite television—now in 28.9% of U.S. homes—which spurred an 8% higher rating for network sporting events in satellite TV homes in 2009 and High Definition TV—in 33% of U.S. homes—which prompted network sporting events to receive 21% higher ratings in HD. And, of course, the Internet and sports web sites, which increased 19% from October 2008, provide fans with a virtual sports bar for online conversation. So what are the trends driving the data?

1. The Internet: Sports sites and streaming events tend to complement sports viewing rather than cannibalize it. Blogs and social networks provide fans a virtual “sports bar” for online conversation. The Nielsen TV-Internet convergence panel found that viewers visit social networks more than sports websites while watching games. But thanks in part to fantasy leagues, sports websites are still drawing big numbers: more than 88 million Americans checked out a sports site in October of 2009—that’s up 19% from October 2008.
2. Satellite TV: Satellite television providers are now in 28.9% of U.S. TV homes, and offer robust sports tiers, including league-run networks which keep fans engaged during the off-season. Take note: Homes with satellite TV score higher network ratings (8% more) for sports programming than those without satellite.
3. HDTV: It’s no secret that sports look great in High Definition, and as HD penetration continues to grow (in May 2009 HD sets were in 33% of U.S. homes), sports viewing is poised to grow in tandem. This year network sporting events received 21% higher ratings in HD.

Picking Winners for 2010? Bet on Globalization
2010 will feature two major international sporting events: the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC, and the World Cup in South Africa. More than a year after the Beijing Olympics attracted 4.7 billion global viewers (211 million in the U.S.), it will be interesting to see the expanded role social media outlets will play in international media coverage and fan engagement.

Goal-den Opportunities
Globalization also presents sports properties with opportunities to grow their fan base: In 2009, the NFL televised a regular season game in London; the NHL dropped the puck in Scandinavia; and the NBA played preseason games in Europe, Asia, and Mexico. The more these leagues extend into new markets, the greater the global reach for their sponsors and advertising partners.

Meanwhile, the already global game of soccer, er, football, for most of the world, is poised again to drive towards its final frontier: the United States. On top of the stateside MLS, the British Premier League and the Champions League are now available to watch in the U.S. With the American team qualifying for the World Cup, soccer seems poised once again to make a run at mainstream American popularity. Lower ticket prices, a futbol-loving Hispanic population that’s growing in the U.S., and a young generation raised on soccer, are other trends that bode well for the sport.

On Defense: Long-Term Threats
More than half of sports fans who identify themselves as “avid fans” reported cutting back on attending sporting events due to the economy. As consumers scrutinize their discretionary income, it remains to be seen if consumer and fan confidence will come back to the stadiums once economic fears have subsided. Nielsen studies have shown that consumers are staying home more, not surprising considering the investment many sports fans are making in their HDTVs and satellite packages.

In the near future, the major sports leagues are also looking with some concern at the next generation of fans. Will they be filling those seats of all these shiny new arenas? According to Nielsen’s How Teens Use Media, teenagers actually under-index when it comes to visiting sports sites on their mobile phones compared to the rest of the population. Will that translate into a more muted engagement going forward with TV viewing, online participation, and live game attendance? Sports franchises are on the edge of their seats, wondering how the first generation born in the digital age will impact the sports world in the next inning of the digital revolution.

2010 U.S. Outlook

Part 1: Cross Media

• Big Screen, Smart Screen, Small Screen: Top 5 Cross-Media Trends
• You Can Take It With You: Future Trends In Media

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Part 2: Consumer

• Winner Winner Chicken Dinner – Top 5 Consumer Goods Spending Trends
• Innovation Creates Opportunities for CPG Growth
• Aging Puts a Wrinkle in U.S. Marketplace

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Part 3: Advertising

• Talking Back – Top Five Advertising Trends
• Get Ready for the Audience-Centric Web
• What Would John Wanamaker Say Today?

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Part 4: Entertainment

• There’s No Business Like Show Business – Top Five Entertainment Trends
• Game On – The World is Watching More Than Ever
• Video Games in Play

The top-market Yankees, with almost 20 million viewers in the New York City area (6.5% of the US), boasted the most viewers per game of all MLB teams during the regular season.  In 2009, the Yankees received an average audience of 445,000 viewers on YES in New York . Their following has continued to grow in the playoffs, with an average of 2.1 million New Yorkers tuning into the ALCS on FOX, with nearly 3 million for the decisive Game 6, despite the hometown Giants playing simultaneously on Sunday Night Football.

And the Pinstripes stretch out in all directions beyond New York’s five boroughs.  In Hartford/New Haven and Buffalo, where YES also broadcasts games during the regular season, the Yankees averaged 11.8, and 8.9 household ratings, respectively, during the ALCS on FOX – both well above the Metered Market Average of 7.7.

MLB WORLD SERIES VIEWERSHIP ON FOX SINCE 2001
(Winning team in BOLD)

Meanwhile, Philadelphia may relish the role of underdog on the field, but it is, after all, the fourth largest market (7.4 million viewers) and home to the defending World Series champions.  The Phillies themselves have long played second fiddle to the NFL’s Eagles, and while the city no doubt bleeds Eagle green, there is an increasing amount of red mixed in. The Phillies’ 7.1 household rating this season for games on Comcast SportsNet more than doubled their 2003 average, and was up 25% from 2008.

This year’s playoffs have even seen the Phillies putting up Eagle-esque viewing numbers:  The NLCS averaged a 29.6 household rating in the Philly market, the highest local rating for any team in the playoffs, and up 13% from their 2008 NLCS against the Dodgers.

The Nielsen Company looked back at the four Stanley Cup Finals match-ups that have gone the full seven games since 2000 and in each case, Game 7 was a ratings windfall. For example, games one through six of the 2006 finals between Edmonton and Carolina averaged 2.4 million viewers. Game 7, however, more than doubled that figure with 5.3 million viewers.

In 2003, when the New Jersey Devils finished off the Anaheim Ducks, Game 7 was watched by 7.2 million U.S. viewers on ABC. Not only did the game attract 140% more viewers than the average of the previous six games, but it was also (and still is) the most-watched Stanley Cup Finals game since at least 1992.

The “Game 7″ effect isn’t just limited to the NHL. When Detroit and San Antonio took the NBA Finals to the limit in 2005, Game 7 was watched by 65% more viewers than the series average to date. And in the eight MLB World Series or LCS matchups to go the full seven games, since 2000, Game 7 viewership overshadowed the rest of the series’ averages each time by anywhere from 74% to 94%.

While controversy seems to follow Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez wherever they go, Nielsen Online buzz data reveals that, when it comes to buzz, steroids trump all of their on-field accomplishments. Of all the online discussion over the past year surrounding Manny Ramirez, Internet buzz peaked last week when it was announced Ramirez was suspended 50 games for using performance enhancing drugs.

Buzz For Manny Ramirez

Ratings Juice

Ramirez’s absence may also impact the Dodgers’ television ratings, since those numbers for Dodgers games are up 35% since Manny was acquired on July 31st of last year.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez also saw a significant online buzz spike in reaction to his steroid scandal.

Buzz For Alex Rodriguez

Love him, hate him, or somewhere in between, it can’t be denied that he delivers eyeballs: His first game back from a hip injury received a 4.8 rating, a 15% increase over their current average on the YES Network.

With Major League Baseball’s opening day fast approaching, big league teams are looking to surpass last-season’s finish and to collect more eyeballs for their advertisers and corporate sponsors.  A look back at the stats from locally and nationally televised games from the 2008 season reveals impressive numbers and teams will hope to carry that momentum throughout the 2009 season… and perhaps the playoffs.

Regional Ratings:

Locally, Boston continued to show the power of Red Sox Nation, with a 10.1 HH AA% on NESN (New England Sports Network), the highest average local rating on a regional sports network of any MLB team.   Additionally, the national pastime continues to be as strong as ever in America’s Heartland with the St. Louis Cardinals (7.9), Minnesota Twins (7.2), Milwaukee Brewers (7.0), and Cincinnati Reds (6.8) following as the next highest rated markets.

Several teams also boasted significant increases in ratings on their regional network. Most notably, the Tampa Bay Rays, whose incredible worst-to-first turnaround contributed to an impressive 94% jump over last season’s ratings on FOX Sports Florida.  Other notable increases were the Chicago White Sox (69%), the Cincinnati Reds (39%), and Colorado Rockies (34%).

National Broadcasts

FOX’s Saturday Baseball averaged 2.9 million viewers, with a high mark coming on July 5th when 4.5 million tuned in for Yankees vs. Red Sox or Cubs vs. Cards.  ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball also owed its high point to the Yankees and Red Sox (July 27^th -4.2 million). For the year, Sunday Night Baseball continued to be a staple of primetime cable programming with an average of 2.5 million viewers.

Post-Season

A thrilling post-season was highlighted by the most-watched cable baseball game ever: the Red Sox-Rays ALCS Game 7, with 13.4 million viewers on TBS.  The Rays’ storybook run, however, came to an end at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies in a rain-soaked World Series which averaged an 8.4 HH rating and 13.6 million viewers.

The study, which analyzed viewership data for some of America’s favorite sports, uncovered that while Major League Baseball and NBA pull in comparable audiences for nationally televised broadcast, when compared to the actual fan base in the United States, the NBA significantly outperformed most of its peers; NBA games were able to get 7.8% of its fans, on average, to sit down and view the broadcast.

The study also highlighted the strength of engagement for the sports. NFL fans, on average, watch over an hour of each televised football event; this was the only sport of the four to have over an hour of engagement per televised event.

Read the full study.