UPDATE: U.S. viewership for the first two games of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays has plunged by 14%, compared to last year’s matchup between the Dodgers and the New York Yankees. According to Major League Baseball (MLB), the initial games averaged 12.5 million viewers across various platforms, including Fox and Univision.
This significant drop is alarming for MLB, as last year’s first two games averaged 14.55 million viewers. The 32.6 million combined viewers from the U.S., Canada, and Japan for the opener marks the highest total since the historic 2016 World Series, when the Chicago Cubs broke their 108-year championship drought.
Game 1 of the Series saw the Blue Jays dominate with an impressive 11-4 victory, drawing 13.3 million viewers. Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ Game 2 win, which ended 5-1, averaged 11.63 million viewers, excluding Univision’s numbers. Last year’s opening game, featuring Freddie Freeman‘s grand slam, attracted 15.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched Series game since 2019.
The viewership metrics reveal a stark contrast between U.S. audiences and those in Canada and Japan. Game 1 captivated 7 million viewers in Canada, while Game 2 garnered 6.6 million—both record numbers for Blue Jays games on Sportsnet. Notably, the games were also broadcast with French-language commentary on TVA Sports, achieving 502,000 views, the network’s highest-ever for a game.
Japan’s interest in the Series reached new heights, with Game 1 averaging 11.8 million viewers on NHK-G, marking the most-viewed World Series game on a single Japanese network. Game 2 followed with 9.5 million, leading to a two-game average of 10.7 million in Japan.
As the World Series progresses, the challenges for U.S. broadcasters are evident. The decline in viewership could impact advertising revenues and overall interest in Major League Baseball. Experts are closely watching how this trend develops, particularly with Game 4 on the horizon, which will see high-profile attendees like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
With the Series still unfolding, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if the viewership can rebound in upcoming games. The stakes are high as both teams vie for the championship, and MLB will be monitoring these numbers closely as the event continues. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
