URGENT UPDATE: Viewership for the first two games of the World Series has dropped a staggering 14% compared to last year’s matchup. The Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the Toronto Blue Jays, drawing an average of just 12.5 million viewers across various platforms including Fox and Univision, down from 14.55 million in 2022.
Despite this decline in the U.S., records were shattered in Canada and Japan. Major League Baseball (MLB) confirmed that the combined audience from the U.S., Canada, and Japan reached 32.6 million, marking the highest viewership since the Chicago Cubs’ historic Game 7 win in 2016.
In Game 1, the Blue Jays secured a commanding 11-4 victory, attracting 13.3 million viewers. Game 2, however, saw the Dodgers triumph with a 5-1 score, averaging 11.63 million viewers, excluding Univision’s coverage. For context, last year’s opener, featuring a dramatic 6-3 win by the Dodgers in 10 innings, pulled in 15.2 million viewers—the highest-rated Series game since 2019.
In Canada, Game 1 drew 7 million viewers, while Game 2 attracted 6.6 million, both marking record-highs for Blue Jays games on Sportsnet. The opener also aired with French-language commentary on TVA Sports, achieving 502,000 viewers, making it the network’s most-watched game.
In Japan, the World Series garnered impressive ratings as well. Game 1 averaged 11.8 million viewers on NHK-G, while Game 2 reached 9.5 million on NHK-BS, resulting in a two-game average of 10.7 million.
The discrepancy in viewership raises questions about audience engagement and preferences, particularly in the U.S., where baseball traditionally enjoys a strong following. MLB officials are analyzing these trends closely as they seek to enhance fan experience and boost ratings in the coming games.
As the World Series continues, all eyes will be on how viewership trends evolve and whether the excitement can be rekindled for U.S. audiences. Stay tuned for live updates and analysis as this story develops.
