MLB Postseason Hits Highest Viewership Since 2017 with 4.48M

UPDATE: Major League Baseball (MLB) is experiencing its most-viewed postseason in the United States since 2017, with viewership averaging 4.48 million during the League Championship Series. This marks a significant 13% increase over last year, according to data from MLB and Nielsen.

The surge in viewership is largely attributed to the excitement generated during the first two rounds of the postseason. The American League Championship Series (ALCS), broadcasted on Fox, Fox Sports 1, and Fox Deportes, attracted an impressive average of 4.99 million viewers across its seven games. This figure holds steady compared to last year’s ALCS, where the New York Yankees triumphed over the Cleveland Guardians in five games.

The postseason has delivered thrilling moments, including the Toronto Blue Jays clinching a spot in the World Series for the first time since 1993 with a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7, which averaged a staggering 9.03 million viewers. This marks the most-watched ALCS game in eight years, peaking at 12.35 million viewers during the nail-biting ninth inning.

However, not all series thrived in viewership. The National League Championship Series (NLCS) fell short, averaging 4.7 million viewers, a 17% decline from last year’s six-game series between the New York Mets and the Dodgers on Fox.

Internationally, MLB’s viewership is breaking records as well. In Canada, the Blue Jays’ Game 7 victory garnered an average of 6 million viewers, marking it as the most-watched Blue Jays game on Sportsnet. Meanwhile, in Japan, Shohei Ohtani‘s stellar performance in Game 4 averaged an astonishing 10.26 million viewers, making it the second-most-watched LCS game in Japan’s history. The time difference between Tokyo and Los Angeles meant the game aired on Saturday morning in Japan, capturing a large audience.

The NLCS also saw a record-breaking average of 7.34 million viewers in Japan, representing a remarkable 26% increase over last year. Fans have been avidly following stars like Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki as they make their mark in the league.

With the postseason still unfolding, viewers are eagerly anticipating what thrilling developments lie ahead. The momentum is palpable, and MLB’s commitment to delivering captivating matchups could keep audiences engaged as the World Series approaches.

Stay tuned for further updates as the excitement continues to build in the world of baseball!