World Series Game 1 a big hit in ratings

Game 1 of the World Series delivered a clear ratings home run for Fox.

The Cardinals vs. Red Sox match-up had 14.4 million viewers and a 5.4 rating among adults 18-49, according to time-zone-adjusted ratings from Fox. That’s up 18 percent in viewers from last year and was easily enough to sweep the board Wednesday night, beating every broadcast show including ABC’s Modern Family.

Several shows were predictably lower given the fall classic competition. One notable exception: Rebel Wilson’s new comedy Super Fun Night had 5.9 million viewers and a 2.2 rating among adults 18-49, which at least matches last week despite a weaker Modern Family lead-in. NBC took the biggest hit with Law & Order: SVU down 22 percent and dead-show-walking Ironside down 20 percent (Would Ironside have collapsed that much if viewers didn’t know it had been cancelled? Mystery for the ages). CBS’ CSI got a modest uptick, 5 percent, with last night’s 300th episode featuring the return of Marg Helgenberger. The CW’s Arrow and new super-power drama The Tomorrow People both took a hit, the latter sinking into Nikita territory.

Full Chart: