UPDATE: Major League Baseball is experiencing its most-viewed postseason in the U.S. since 2017, with viewership averaging 4.48 million viewers through the League Championship Series, as confirmed by MLB and Nielsen. This marks a 13% increase compared to last year, highlighting the rising popularity of the sport during this critical playoff season.
The surge in viewership is largely attributed to the thrilling first two rounds of the postseason. Notably, the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Fox and Fox Sports 1 averaged 4.99 million viewers over the seven-game series, matching last year’s audience for the ALCS where the New York Yankees triumphed over the Cleveland Guardians in five games.
However, the postseason’s dynamics shifted significantly. The Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the National League postseason, sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in four games. Despite this, the ratings for the Dodgers’ series dropped, averaging 4.7 million viewers, a 17% decline from last year’s six-game series between the New York Mets and Dodgers.
In a standout moment, the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the ALCS, attracting an impressive 9.03 million viewers, the highest for an ALCS game in eight years. The audience peaked at an astonishing 12.35 million during the ninth inning, showcasing the intense excitement of the matchup.
MLB’s appeal is not confined to the U.S.; viewership in Canada and Japan has also surged. Toronto’s victory, which advances them to the World Series for the first time since 1993, captivated an average of 6 million viewers in Canada, making it the most-watched Blue Jays game on Sportsnet.
In Japan, Shohei Ohtani’s spectacular performance in Game 4, where he hit three home runs and struck out ten, drew an average of 10.26 million viewers, marking it as the second most-watched LCS game in the country’s history. The game aired during Saturday morning in Japan due to the 16-hour time difference between Tokyo and Los Angeles, further boosting its viewership.
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) also set records, averaging 7.34 million viewers in Japan, a remarkable 26% increase compared to last year. Fans are increasingly tuning in to watch stars like Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, reflecting the global reach and excitement surrounding the MLB postseason.
As the postseason continues, all eyes will be on the upcoming World Series, which promises to deliver more thrilling matchups and potentially record-breaking viewership numbers. Stay tuned for further updates as MLB teams battle for the championship title.
