Texas Rangers, Houston Astros ALCS Matchup Ratings Monster for FOX
Everything is bigger in Texas, including TV ratings.
The Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros posted the best viewing numbers for a Game 1 of a league championship series since 2015 in ALCS opener on Sunday.
The Rangers won 2-0 and have a 2-0 lead in the series as they prepare for Game 3 of the ALCS at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wednesday.
Sunday’s Game 1 — the first postseason game between the Rangers and Astros in their respective histories — drew 7,226,000 viewers across all FOX platforms, including its linear network, FOX Deportes and its streaming service. On FOX it averaged 7,024,000 viewers.
Those were the best numbers for a Game 1 in a league championship series since Game 1 of the NLCS in 2015 between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets, which brought in 7,891,000 viewers.
In the American League, it was the best-viewed Game 1 of that league’s championship since 2010, when the Rangers and New York Yankees drew 8,111,000 viewers.
Sunday’s viewing number was up 28 percent on last year’s ALCS Game 1 between Houston and York Yankees (5,492,000).
Of the top five available markets in terms of rating and marker share, four were in Texas: Houston (18.0/45), Dallas-Fort Worth (14.8/37), Austin (10.0/28), San Antonio (9.3/25) and Detroit (5.9/15).
The game was also the most-viewed LCS Game 1 in Spanish language on Fox Deportes, where it drew 242,000.
2023 ALCS schedule (Texas leads 2-0)
Game 1: Texas 2, Houston 0
Game 2: Texas 5, Houston 4
Game 3: Wednesday: Houston at Texas, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)
Game 4: Thursday: Houston at Texas, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)
Game 5*: Friday: Houston at Texas, 4:07 p.m. (FS1)
Game 6*: Sunday, Oct. 22: Texas at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (FS1)
Game 7*: Monday, Oct. 23: Texas at Houston, 7:03 p.m. (Fox/FS1)
*If necessary
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
