Game Four of the 2009 World Series on FOX last night, which was won by Yankees 7-4 to take a 3-1 series lead, was seen by 22.8 million viewers, a +47% increase over last year’s Game Four and the most-watched World Series game since the series-clinching Game Four of the 2004 World Series (28.8 million viewers), and the most-viewed non-clinching Game 4 since 2001, based on fast national data from Nielsen Media Research. Through four games, the 2009 World Series is averaging 19.1 million viewers, also a +47% increase over the first four games of the 2008 World Series and the highest four-game World Series average since 2004. Based on preliminary primetime averages, last night’s game propelled FOX to its best primetime performance on a Sunday in nearly two years (Super Bowl XLII in February 2008), and its best primetime performance on any night since the “American Idol” finale on May 20. New Yorkers are eagerly tuning in, with Game Four posting a 31.2 local rating, exceeding that for all six games of the 2003 World Series as well as every game of the 2001 World Series aside from Game Seven.  In Philadelphia , Game Four averaged a 42.0 local rating, +8% better than the 39.0 recorded for Game 4 of last year’s Fall Classic. Source: Major League Baseball by way of Nielsen Media Research OTHER NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK (THE BIZ OF FOOTBALL) DeMaurice Smith and Roger Goodell to Testify Regarding "Star Caps" Case Buccaneers Fire Back After Report That Team May Be Up For Sale Santa Clara Co. Council Vote Allows for Exemption for Competitive Bidding on 49ers Stadium Dolphins Name Jim Rushton Senior VP of Corporate Partnerships and Integrated Media Gov. Schwarzenegger Approves Bill for NFL Stadium in Los Angeles Area (THE BIZ OF HOCKEY) Panel Installs Mike Ouellet As Acting Executive Director of NHLPA Ian Penny Steps Down as Interim Exec. Director of NHLPA NBCU & VERSUS: An Alternative to ESPN? Caps, Flyers Game Pushes VERSUS Ratings to Highest Point Since '05 (THE BIZ OF BASKETBALL) NBA.TV Adds Brent Barry to On-Air Talent Roster NBA Opening Night on TNT Sees Highest Viewed Regular Season Double-Header Since '96 Timberwolves Unveil Two New Seating Areas At Target Center Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network. Don't forget to register and log in on The Biz of Baseball site to get updates via your in-box, and see information only logged in members can see. Follow Maury Brown on Twitter Follow The Biz of Baseball on Twitter Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook