U.S. World Series Viewership Drops 14% Amid Record Canadian, Japanese Audiences

URGENT UPDATE: Viewership for the first two games of the World Series has plummeted by 14% in the U.S. compared to last year’s thrilling matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. This year’s games, featuring the Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, averaged only 12.5 million viewers, a stark decline from last year’s 14.55 million average, according to Major League Baseball (MLB) reports released today.

The significant drop in U.S. viewership comes despite record-breaking audiences in both Canada and Japan. Viewership across the U.S., Canada, and Japan for the World Series opener reached 32.6 million, the highest since the Chicago Cubs’ historic victory in the 2016 Series. The opener, where the Blue Jays triumphed over the Dodgers 11-4, attracted 13,305,000 viewers, while the Dodgers’ 5-1 win in Game 2 garnered 11.63 million viewers, excluding Univision’s coverage.

Last year’s Games 1 and 2 were monumental, drawing 15.2 million viewers for Game 1 and 13.44 million for Game 2. The contrast starkly highlights the changing viewing habits as sports fans adapt to new viewing platforms and options.

In Canada, the World Series has captured viewers’ attention with strong ratings. Game 1 attracted 7 million viewers, while Game 2 was watched by 6.6 million on Sportsnet, marking these as the most-watched Blue Jays games in the network’s history. French-language commentary on TVA Sports for the opener also saw impressive numbers, drawing 502,000 viewers.

Japan’s interest in the Series remains robust, with Game 1 averaging 11.8 million viewers on NHK-G, the highest viewing figures for a single network. Game 2 followed closely, averaging 9.5 million on NHK-BS, leading to a remarkable two-game average of 10.7 million in Japan.

As the World Series progresses, the impact of these viewership trends raises questions about the future of baseball’s popularity in the U.S. and the influence of international audiences. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see if this trend continues.

With the stakes high and the games unfolding, all eyes will be on the next matchups to see if viewership rebounds or if this decline marks a new chapter for baseball’s viewership landscape. Stay tuned for further updates as the World Series action continues!