UPDATE: Major League Baseball (MLB) is experiencing its most-viewed postseason in the U.S. since 2017, with viewership averaging an impressive 4.48 million fans, according to data from MLB and Nielsen. This marks a 13% increase over last year’s postseason figures, driven primarily by strong performances in the initial rounds.
The American League Championship Series (ALCS) has proven to be a significant draw, averaging 4.99 million viewers across seven games on Fox, Fox Sports 1, and Fox Deportes. This figure matches last year’s ALCS viewership when the New York Yankees triumphed over the Cleveland Guardians in five games.
In a notable highlight, the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a thrilling 4-3 victory against the Seattle Mariners in Game 7, attracting an astonishing 9.03 million viewers. This makes it the most-watched ALCS game in eight years, peaking at 12.35 million during the ninth inning.
The NLCS has also seen a significant uptick in viewership, with a record-setting average of 7.34 million viewers in Japan, reflecting a 26% increase over last year. Fans are flocking to see superstars like Shohei Ohtani, who achieved a remarkable three-homer game alongside ten strikeouts, averaging 10.26 million viewers in Japan.
MLB’s postseason popularity isn’t just confined to the U.S.; viewership in Canada has surged as well, with Toronto’s playoff games averaging 6 million viewers—marking the most-watched Blue Jays game on Sportsnet in Canadian history. This postseason continues to captivate audiences across the globe.
With the World Series on the horizon, the stakes are higher than ever. Fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating how these record-breaking ratings will translate into even greater excitement for the championship series. Major League Baseball is poised to leverage this momentum as it heads into the final stretch of the postseason.
As the playoffs progress, all eyes will be on the upcoming matchups, and the league may set even more records in viewership. Stay tuned for further updates as MLB aims to capitalize on its resurgent popularity.