This Time Around, Ratings Ended in a Tie

NEW YORK —  Television ratings for the All-Star game were the same as last season despite baseball’s attempt to increase interest by awarding home-field advantage in the World Series to the winning league.

The American League’s 7-6 victory Tuesday night drew a 9.5 rating and 17 share on Fox, Nielsen Media Research said Wednesday.

The All-Star game started earlier this year and ratings were down at the start of the contest, but increased toward the end when the AL rallied thanks to Hank Blalock’s two-run homer.

There was a 12% increase for the last half hour of the game over the first, 9.1 to 8.1. Over the last five years, All-Star game ratings declined by an average of 23% from the first half hour to the last half hour.

Though the numbers appear disappointing, Major League Baseball tried to put a positive spin on the ratings by saying viewership increased as the game got more exciting.

“The format change ... accomplished exactly what the commissioner [Bud Selig] intended, which was to create a more exciting and engaging game,” Bob DuPuy, president of Major League Baseball, said in a statement.