July 24, 20205 yr Fox Sports exec Michael Mulvihill is on record as saying he expects the network’s first weekend of games to increase 40 percent over last year’s openers. The first FOX window last year had a 1.5 rating, so that means a 2.1. If you’re expecting big growth, then that fits the bill. If you’re expecting record ratings or some otherwise historic turnout, not so much. Say Thursday’s Yankees-Nationals opener doubles last year’s comparable Opening Night window, a Red Sox-Mariners game that had just a 0.8. That 1.6 rating would mark a three-year high (Cardinals-Cubs had a 2.1 in 2017). Ratings would have to nearly triple in order to reach a 12-year high (Braves-Nationals had a 2.4 in 2008). Even with substantial growth, expect ratings to be closer to typical than historic. Predictions: 1.7 and 1.2. https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2020/07/mlb-opening-night-ratings-predictions-nba-nascar-wnba-nwsl/ One key indicator is going to be the early TV ratings...granted, August is normally a "dead time" in terms of ratings and family vacations/back to school....but this year will be fascinating to watch play out with the new playoff format and quick as a whistle trade deadline.
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