An average of over 19 million U.S. viewers watched the six games of this year’s World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees, the most since an average of 25.4 million people saw the Red Sox sweep the Cardinals in 2004. Game 4 of the series was also the most watched single World Series game (22.5 million viewers) since 2004.

A legendary 6-RBI game by Hideki Matsui in Game 6 propelled the Yankee DH from a postseason afterthought to World Series MVP. The series-clinching performance resounded throughout the internet as Matsui’s buzz soared across blogs and message boards in the hours after the final out:

Of all the players participating in the World Series, Alex Rodriguez delivered the most buzz. As A-Rod marched through October on his quest toward his first championship ring, his internet buzz was at a level three times higher than any other Yankee or Phillie. Surprisingly, the next-closest player in terms of buzz during the postseason was pitcher A.J. Burnett, who saw his share of ups and downs throughout the playoffs. Derek Jeter’s on-field steadiness translated to the blogosphere with the third-highest buzz of any World Series participant. The most buzzed-about Phillie was second baseman Chase Utley, whose five-homerun performance in the Fall Classic had many wondering if he could take MVP honors back to the losing city.

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.

Three NFL games appeared at the top of the C3 ratings list for the 18-49 year old demographic group. These games, like most sports programming, did not receive much of a lift from rating for live viewing and the C3 number. The top entertainment shows received a bigger boost from DVR playback, however. After three days of DVR playback, Fox’s House rose more than a full rating point to 6.3 from 5.2. ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy rose from a 5.1 live rating to a 6.1 rating on C3.

CBS’s “NCIS” was the second-ranked program with approximately 9.2 million average viewers while FOX’s “Hell’s Kitchen” rounded out the top three with approximately 6.9 million average viewers.

Overall, NBC won the night with an average audience of almost 10.7 million viewers,
while CBS took second place with almost 6.6 million average viewers. FOX and ABC
claimed third and fourth places with roughly 5.3 and 4.2 million average viewers.
UNI and MNT followed in fifth and sixth places with average audiences of roughly
3.7 million and 1.5 million average viewers.

ABC’s “Millionaire-8/10 Special” rounded out the top three with 7.3 million average viewers.

Overall, CBS won the night with an average audience of almost 6.9 million viewers,
while ABC took second place with almost 5.0 million average viewers. NBC claimed third with roughly 4.9 million average viewers. FOX & UNI took fourth and fifth with approximately 3.9 and 3.6 million average viewers while MNT followed in sixth with an average audience of roughly 1.2 million average viewers.