Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series Breaks U.S. and Global Viewership Records

A recent World Series featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays has set new viewership records in the United States and beyond. This seven-game series showcased exceptional talent, including Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, drawing significant audiences across multiple countries.

Record-Breaking U.S. Viewership

The Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series averaged a Nielsen-estimated audience of 16.1 million viewers on Fox Sports platforms. This is a 2% increase over last year’s figure for the Dodgers-Yankees series, which had an average of 15.8 million viewers. The FOX-only average also rose to 15.71 million, surpassing the previous year’s 15.34 million.

Nielsen expanded its viewership estimates this year by including out-of-home data and adopting a new methodology that incorporates smart TVs and set-top boxes. Despite these adjustments, the Dodgers’ World Series triumph ranks as the most-watched since the seven-game Astros-Dodgers series in 2017, which averaged 18.93 million viewers.

Game Highlights

• Game 7 attracted a staggering 26.88 million viewers on FOX.
• The audience across all Fox Sports platforms for Game 7 reached 27.33 million.
• This marked the largest MLB audience since the 2017 World Series Game 7.
• Overall, Game 7 viewership grew by 16% compared to the previous Game 7 in 2019.

While some games had lower viewership earlier in the series, Games 6 and 7 delivered a strong finale. Saturday night’s Game 7 achieved an 11.5 rating, making it the largest Saturday sports viewership since the 1996 World Series.

International Audience Growth

The series also witnessed remarkable international viewership. In Canada, Game 7 averaged 11.6 million viewers, the largest English-language audience since the 2010 Winter Olympics. In Japan, Game 7 attracted an average of 12 million viewers. Together, these figures contributed to a combined audience of 51 million across the U.S., Canada, and Japan, the largest since 1991.

Increased Viewership Across Three Nations

• Full series average in Canada: 8.1 million viewers.
• Total for the two countries (U.S. and Canada): 24.3 million, up 46% from last year.
• Series averaged 34 million viewers across all three nations, a 19% increase.

This year’s World Series outperformed the NBA Finals in viewership for the fourth time in six years, a notable achievement particularly involving the Dodgers in much of this span.

Local Market Ratings

Los Angeles led the way with a substantial rating of 17.6 and a 53 share. This was a slight decrease from last year’s five-game series. However, Game 7 in Los Angeles posted an impressive 22.2 and 62 share. Other notable markets included San Diego, Seattle, and Milwaukee, marking a broad interest in the series across the nation.

Overall, this World Series has not only broken viewership records but has also demonstrated the enduring popularity of baseball, both in the U.S. and around the world. As the season concludes, fans await what the future holds for this beloved sport.