U.S. World Series Viewership Plummets 14%, Canada Sets Records

UPDATE: Viewership for the first two games of the World Series has dropped a startling 14% in the U.S., as the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against the Toronto Blue Jays. This decline follows last year’s matchup, which featured the Dodgers and the New York Yankees. New data released by Major League Baseball (MLB) confirms that this year’s games averaged only 12.5 million viewers compared to 14.55 million last year.

While U.S. audiences have diminished, Canadian and Japanese viewership has surged to record levels. The combined viewership across the U.S., Canada, and Japan reached 32.6 million, the highest since the Chicago Cubs’ historic win in the 2016 World Series. This indicates a significant shift in viewer engagement, particularly in Canada, where Game 1 attracted 7 million viewers and Game 2 drew 6.6 million—marking them as the most-watched Blue Jays games on Sportsnet.

In detail, Toronto’s commanding 11-4 victory in Game 1 averaged 13.3 million viewers, while Los Angeles’ 5-1 win in Game 2, which did not include Univision coverage, averaged 11.63 million. Last year’s opener featuring a dramatic win by the Dodgers, which ended with a grand slam from Freddie Freeman, was viewed by a staggering 15.2 million, making it the most-watched Series game since 2019.

Game 1 this year also captivated Japanese audiences, averaging 11.8 million viewers on NHK-G, marking it as the most-viewed World Series game in Japan on a single network. Game 2 followed suit with an average of 9.5 million viewers on NHK-BS, leading to a two-game average of 10.7 million in Japan.

The figures reveal a troubling trend for U.S. broadcasts, suggesting a need for MLB to reassess its engagement strategies with American fans amidst a backdrop of rising international interest. As the series progresses, all eyes will be on potential adjustments in broadcasting and promotional strategies aimed at revitalizing U.S. viewership.

As the World Series continues, fans and analysts alike will be closely monitoring the ratings. Will the trend reverse, or will international audiences continue to capture the spotlight? Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.