UPDATE: Viewership for the first two games of the World Series has plunged by 14% compared to last year, with just 12.5 million viewers tuning in across various platforms, including Fox and Univision. This alarming drop comes as the highly anticipated matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays unfolds, signaling a notable shift in audience engagement.
According to Major League Baseball (MLB), last year’s World Series games averaged 14.55 million viewers, while this year’s figures are strikingly lower, raising concerns about viewer interest. The first game on October 27, which saw the Blue Jays triumph 11-4, captured an average of 13.3 million viewers. The following day, the Dodgers secured a 5-1 victory, averaging 11.63 million viewers.
Despite the decline in U.S. numbers, audiences in Canada and Japan have set remarkable records. Game 1 attracted 7 million viewers in Canada, marking it as the most-watched Blue Jays game ever on Sportsnet, while Game 2 reached 6.6 million. Additionally, Japan’s NHK-G reported an average of 11.8 million viewers for the opener, the highest for a single network in World Series history.
The combined viewership from the U.S., Canada, and Japan totaled a staggering 30.5 million for the two games, the highest since the historic 2016 World Series when the Chicago Cubs broke their 108-year title drought. This statistic underscores the global interest surrounding the series, despite the domestic viewership decline.
The previous year saw a much stronger performance, with Game 1 watched by 15.2 million viewers and Game 2 at 13.44 million, highlighting the significant drop in viewer engagement this time around. MLB officials are closely monitoring these trends, as the growing disparity could impact future broadcasting deals and sponsorships.
As the series continues, all eyes will be on Game 4, scheduled for October 30, with fans eager to see if the Dodgers can turn the tide in viewership numbers. With the stakes high and excitement building, this World Series is shaping up to be one for the record books—though not necessarily for the reasons fans had hoped.
Fans and analysts alike are left pondering the implications of these viewership trends: What does this mean for the future of baseball viewership in the U.S.? Will the excitement from international audiences be enough to compensate for the domestic decline? Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on this developing story.
