BREAKING: U.S. viewership for the first two games of the World Series has plummeted 14% compared to last year, with the Los Angeles Dodgers facing off against the Toronto Blue Jays. While American audiences have decreased, Canadian and Japanese viewers are setting records, highlighting a stark contrast in global interest.
According to Major League Baseball (MLB), the first two games of this year averaged 12.5 million viewers on platforms including Fox, Fox Deportes, and streaming services. In contrast, last year’s matchup between the Dodgers and the New York Yankees saw an average of 14.55 million viewers.
The combined viewership across the U.S., Canada, and Japan reached a staggering 32.6 million for the opener, marking the highest figures since the Chicago Cubs ended their 108-year championship drought in 2016. This shift in viewership dynamics raises questions about the changing landscape of baseball’s audience.
In detail, Toronto’s Game 1 victory with an 11-4 score averaged 13,305,000 viewers, while Los Angeles’ Game 2 win at 5-1 saw 11.63 million tuning in, not including Univision’s coverage. Comparatively, last year’s opener attracted 15.2 million viewers, the most-watched game since 2019.
“The drop in U.S. viewership is concerning, but the global interest is unprecedented,” said an MLB spokesperson.
Canada’s viewership for this year’s games was notable, with Game 1 drawing 7 million viewers and Game 2 attracting 6.6 million—both marking record highs for the Blue Jays on Sportsnet. Notably, the opener also aired with French commentary on TVA Sports, reaching 502,000 viewers, making it the network’s most-watched game.
In Japan, Game 1 averaged 11.8 million viewers on NHK-G, setting a record for the most-viewed World Series game on a single network, while Game 2 averaged 9.5 million on NHK-BS, leading to a combined average of 10.7 million for Japanese audiences over the two games.
As the series progresses, the disparity between U.S. and international viewership raises questions about the future appeal of Major League Baseball. Fans are urged to tune in to see how this year’s World Series unfolds, as the third game approaches.
With the next games already generating buzz, the MLB is focusing on strategies to boost interest within the U.S. market. The World Series continues to be a pivotal event, and the results of the upcoming matchups could determine the future of baseball’s reach and relevance.
Stay tuned for more updates as the World Series progresses, and follow coverage on all major platforms.
