World Series: Game 7 most-watched baseball game in 25 years

The dramatic final game of the 2016 World Series was the most-watched baseball game in 25 years.

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings on Wednesday night and Fox announced that its Game 7 broadcast averaged just over 40 million viewers.

That represents the most viewers since 50.3 million tuned into watch the Minnesota Twins record a 1-0, 10-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the memorable 1991 World Series.

Fox received a 25.2 overnight rating Wednesday -- the network's best since a 27.0 for its broadcast of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees.

Fox's rating is 66 percent better than the most recent previous Game 7, a 2014 matchup between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals.

Wednesday's broadcast drew a 51.2 rating and 71 share in Chicago -- meaning 71 percent of televisions in use in Chicago were tuned in to the game. Cleveland had a 48.6 rating and 69 share.

The World Series between two teams with longstanding droughts -- the Cubs hadn't won since 1908 and Cleveland's last title was 1948 -- was an overall hit with viewers. It drew a 14.9 rating over the seven games to make it the most watched World Series since the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals met in 2004.