The bottom has hit this year. The Cardinals had a 20-year low in regular-season ratings for their local TV package (Fox Sports Midwest). Then the club’s appearance in the first round of the playoffs drew the lowest rating of the Cardinals’ last seven trips to the divisional round. That was followed by their worst ratings performance, by far, in the 10 National League Championship Series in which the team has played in this century.
A few explanations have been offered. Among them is that Game 1 was on a Friday night, when TV use in general is low.