NLCS GAME 7 IS HIGHEST-RATED AND MOST-WATCHED PLAYOFF GAME OF 2012 POSTSEASON

2012 NLCS +38% Over 2011

New York, NY - San Francisco Giants NLCS MVP Marco Scutaro's leadoff hit in the third inning last night sparked a five-run explosion that propelled San Francisco to a 9-0 victory over the Cardinals and a trip into the 2012 World Series. The decisive NLCS Game 7 on FOX also sparked the highest-rated and most-watched broadcast of the 2012 postseason.

Last night's Game 7 delivered a 4.9/7 (8.1 million viewers) household fast-national rating/share, according to Nielsen Media Research and is expected to give FOX its best Monday night since airing the rescheduled Daytona 500 this past February. Last night's ratings were certainly impacted by heightened interest of the Presidential debate as Game 7 peaked at a 5.8/9 at 8:30 PM ET, just prior to Governor Romney and President Obama beginning their third and final debate as San Francisco opened up a seven-run lead in the third inning. Last night's game was the fourth most-lopsided Game 7 in Major League Baseball history and the most lopsided since 1996.

The seven-game 2012 NLCS on FOX averaged a 4.0/7, up +38% over last's year's NLCS which delivered a 2.9/5. Last year's ALCS on FOX averaged 4.4/8.

St. Louis led all markets for Game 7 viewing with a 31.8/43 followed by San Francisco, which delivered a 27.5/46 rating/share. Sacramento (22.0/32), Kansas City (9.3/13) Memphis (7.9/11), Detroit (7.8/11), Salt Lake City (7.2/12), Las Vegas (6.4/9), Cincinnati (6.2/9) and San Diego (6.1/10) round out the top ten markets for last night's game.

World Series Game 1 between the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants airs Wednesday night on FOX with coverage beginning at 7:30 PM ET.