URGENT 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) reports. The games, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, averaged just 12.5 million viewers, down from 14.55 million during last year’s matchup against the New York Yankees.
This decline comes as fans across Canada and Japan set new viewership records for the Series, highlighting a contrasting trend in international interest. The combined audience for the opener across the U.S., Canada, and Japan reached 32.6 million viewers, marking the highest total since the historic Chicago Cubs victory in 2016.
In detail, the opener on October 15 saw Toronto triumph over Los Angeles with an 11-4 score, attracting 13.3 million viewers. Game 2, which concluded with a 5-1 Dodgers win, averaged 11.63 million viewers, excluding Univision coverage. Last year’s opening game featuring a dramatic grand slam by Freddie Freeman was watched by 15.2 million, underscoring a notable drop in this year’s numbers.
In Canada, the Blue Jays’ games have captivated audiences, with Game 1 drawing 7 million viewers and Game 2 6.6 million—both record-breaking numbers for Sportsnet. Additionally, a French-language broadcast on TVA Sports attracted 502,000 viewers, making it the network’s most-watched game.
Japan also saw significant engagement, with the opener averaging 11.8 million viewers on NHK-G, while Game 2 drew 9.5 million, resulting in a two-game average of 10.7 million. The overall two-game average across all three nations stands at 30.5 million.
As the Series continues, the stark contrast between U.S. and international viewership raises critical questions about audience engagement and the future of the World Series. With the third game set for October 17, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching to see if these trends shift or continue.
Stay tuned for more updates as the World Series unfolds and the implications of these viewership trends become clearer.
