UPDATE: Viewership for the first two games of the World Series has dropped a staggering 14% in the U.S., according to Major League Baseball (MLB). The games, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays, averaged just 12.5 million viewers, down from last year’s average of 14.55 million during the Dodgers’ matchup with the New York Yankees. This significant decline raises alarms for MLB as the series unfolds.
Despite this decline, international audiences are breaking records. The combined viewership from the U.S., Canada, and Japan reached 32.6 million for the opener, marking the highest numbers since the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series. Game 1 drew 13.3 million viewers, while Game 2 saw 11.63 million on Fox and other platforms.
In Canada, the viewership for Game 1 hit 7 million, making it the most-watched Blue Jays game on Sportsnet. Game 2 followed closely with 6.6 million viewers. The opener also featured French-language commentary on TVA Sports, attracting 502,000 viewers, the network’s highest for a game.
Japan’s interest in the World Series surged as well, with Game 1 averaging 11.8 million viewers on NHK-G, the highest for a single network in the country’s World Series history. Game 2 brought in 9.5 million viewers on NHK-BS, resulting in a two-game average of 10.7 million in Japan alone.
The stark contrast in viewership highlights a growing concern for MLB as domestic audiences shrink while international interest flourishes. Fans and analysts alike are left wondering what this trend means for the future of baseball in the United States.
As the World Series continues, all eyes will be on the upcoming games to see if viewership can rebound. Will the Dodgers and Blue Jays capture the attention of American fans once more, or will international audiences continue to dominate? Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
