MLB Posts Highest Postseason Viewership Since 2017

UPDATE: Major League Baseball (MLB) is experiencing its highest postseason viewership in the U.S. since 2017, with average viewership hitting 4.48 million across the League Championship Series. This marks a significant 13% increase compared to last year, fueled primarily by the thrilling action of the first two rounds.

Viewership for the American League Championship Series (ALCS) averaged 4.99 million across all platforms, including Fox, Fox Sports 1, and streaming services, matching last year’s ALCS featuring the New York Yankees. The excitement has captivated fans, with many tuning in for the nail-biting performances.

In a pivotal moment, the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7, drawing an impressive 9.03 million viewers, making it the most-watched ALCS game in eight years. The audience peaked at a staggering 12.35 million during the ninth inning, showcasing the intense interest in MLB playoffs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ four-game sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers affected TNT Sports’ ratings, with the series averaging 4.7 million—a 17% decline from last year’s six-game series between the New York Mets and Dodgers. However, Shohei Ohtani’s spectacular three-homer game and 10-strikeout performance in Game 4 managed to attract an average of 3.51 million viewers, highlighting his enduring appeal.

MLB’s reach extends beyond the U.S., witnessing substantial growth in Canada and Japan. Toronto’s advancement to the World Series for the first time since 1993 garnered an average of 6 million viewers in Canada, making it the most-watched Blue Jays game on Sportsnet.

In Japan, Ohtani’s Game 4 performance captured an average of 10.26 million viewers, marking it as the second most-watched LCS game in the country’s history. This is particularly impressive given the 16-hour time difference between Tokyo and Los Angeles, with the game airing on Saturday morning in Japan.

The National League Championship Series (NLCS) also broke records, averaging 7.34 million viewers in Japan—an astounding 26% increase from last year, as fans continue to follow Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki with great enthusiasm.

These viewership figures emphasize the growing global interest in MLB, especially as teams like the Blue Jays and standout players like Ohtani grab headlines and capture hearts. With the postseason action heating up, all eyes are on what will unfold next in this thrilling baseball saga.

Stay tuned for more updates as the World Series approaches, promising more excitement and drama for fans around the world.