TV Ratings: World Series Start Grows on Fox, 300th ‘CSI’ Sees Boost

The World Series kicked off on Fox Wednesday night, and though early returns are approximate and will shift upwards once time zones are factored in, Fox is safely pacing ahead of last year's performance. Game One between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals, which saw Boston topple its competition, averaged a 4.1 rating among adults 18-49 -- up 28 percent from last year's preliminary returns. Early viewership stats were also up, 25 percent, to 12.2 million.

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CBS won the race for second place, though Survivor (2.3 adults) was at a series low, down three-tenths of a point from last week. Criminal Minds (2.7 adults) held last week's score, while CSI (2.1 adults) inched up by a tenth of a point for its 300th episode. CBS averaged a 2.4 rating with adults 18-49 and 10.4 million viewers for the night.

The Middle (2.1 adults) and Back in the Game (1.7 adults) were both down on ABC, slipping a respective one and two-tenths of a point. Modern Family (3.8 adults) was down three-tenths of a point for a season low. Super Fun Night (2.2 adults) ticked up by a tenth of a point ahead of a steady Nashville (2.6 adults). ABC averaged a 2.2 rating among adults 18-49 and 6.95 million viewers.

Revolution (1.4 adults) was the only NBC offering to not lose steam, holding last week's rating. Law & Order: SUV (1.4 adults) tumbled four-tenths of a point, while canceled Ironside (0.8 adults) lost two-tenths of a point. The network pulled a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers.

The CW, which averaged a 0.8 adults rating and 3.2 million viewers, saw Arrow (0.9 adults) and The Tomorrow People (0.6 adults) both fall two-tenths of a point.
 

Michael O'Connell